Another chance to see Vintage TV’s 60 minute Toyah special at the end of the month…
Neil McCormick’s Needle Time: Vintage TV: Tuesday 30th August: 4am Toyah Willcox. Prolific artist and actor, who enjoyed hits with ‘It’s a Mystery’, ‘Thunder in the Mountains’ and ‘I Want to be Free’, shares the story behind her remarkable career – Running Time: 60 minutes. Vintage TV is available on Sky 369, Freeview 242, Virgin 343 and Freesat 505.
Quadrophenia: Sky Select HD: Sunday 19th August: 1.25am
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone. (Sky Select HD is on Sky Channel 312)
Crime & Punishment: A Rock Musical – Interview with Director Phil Willmott
As part of London’s Free Open-Air Theatre Season, Crime & Punishment: A Rock Musical will hold its world premiere at The Scoop in London Bridge this month. Directed and adapted by Phil Willmott and featuring music by legendary rock legend Toyah Willcox, this revamped production will transform Dostoyevsky’s most famous and influential novel into a thrilling new musical. We sit down with director Phil Willmott to get the low-down on this adaptation of a classic with a tuneful twist.
London Calling: What attracted you to doing a rock-version of Crime & Punishment?
Phil Willmott: Well, we always try to do plays that reflect what’s going on in London society. Right now, we’re all very interested in what motivates these lone wolf killers to commit these terrible atrocities around the world. Crime & Punishment is very much about this, about a young man who sincerely believes that for the greater good and because of his beliefs that he is entitled to kill, so it feels very topical. And even though it’s a 19th Century Russian novel, the story is all about student angst, anger, and idealism so it seemed to really suggest itself to rock music as a sort of language for anger and alienation, as well as having a youthful energy.
LC: You’re using music by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow. What is it about their music that fits so well with this rock adaptation?
PW: Well in the 80s she was the punk princess. She was the person who took punk rock and sort of glamourised it and made it theatrical, while still retaining the kind of rawness, the anger and the energy of rock. So, because that’s my generation’s music, the first thing I did was to go back and listen to her songs and then I discovered that she is still recording and is still a best-selling recording artist so I got in touch with her and explained what I wanted to do and fortunately she said yes, that she’d love to come on board.
Opening 31st August at The Scoop Theatre, London, Crime and Punishment, with songs by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow. Adapted and Directed by Phil Willmott
Crime and Punishment – The Rock Musical
Dostoyevsky and the music of Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow
As the skies darken over The Scoop, so does our story. Published in 1866 Dostoyeksky’s Crime and Punishment is one of the most famous and influential novels in world literature. When an idealistic student kills a ruthless money lender, who terrorises the poor of St. Petersburg, the novel challenges us to ask if murder is ever justified.
Rock music works as the perfect medium to express the energy, rebellion and passion of the story. Fittingly this new musical production, adapted and directed by Phil Willmott, will feature specially written songs and favourite tracks by British rock legend, Toyah Willcox and her song-writing partner Simon Darlow.
From 31st August to 25th September, 8pm, every Wednesday to Sunday at The Scoop at More London. Captioned performance of both shows: Thursday 22nd September. Post show chats with the Company: Thurs 8th, 15th & 22nd September after Crime & Punishment.
A couple of newly revealed promotional images for Crime and Punishment. Click below for more info on this new rock musical.
A reminder that Toyah guests on tonight’s Trailblazers: New Romantics on Sky Arts.
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Friday 12th August: 9pm New Romantics. Toyah Willcox and Billy Bragg are among those examining the New Romantic movement, from The Human League and Adam Ant, to David Bowie and Ultravox. (New Episode, Series 1, Episode 16)
Toyah is appearing at the The Bluehouse Festival 2016(of Music, Drama & Literature) in Oxted, Surrey on Friday 21st October – Toyah Willcox Talks about ‘Nine Lives in the Spotlight’. This is a talk not a concert. Click below to view the festival programme, here to view the poster and toyahwillcox.com for further info and ticket link.
Toyah features on guest vocals on the new track Drinking from the Gun by Dodson and Fogg. Singing alongside Dodson and Fogg’s Chris Wade, the track was co-written by Toyah and appears on the new album White House On The Hill.
The album White House On the Hill is now available to buy digitally now on bandcamp and a CD can also be pre-ordered online. An abstract video accompanies the track and can be viewed below. Dodson And Fogg is Chris Wade’s acclaimed folk rock music project, with Celia Humphris of Trees and other guest musicians. The folk rock/acoustic singer-songwriter’s material umbrellas acid folk and psychedelia thrown in for good measure.
• News Source/Further Info at toyahwillcox.com. Buy White House On The Hill, which was released yesterday, at Bandcamp.
• Hampshire Chronicle: Chas & Dave and more at Wickham Festival: Thousands of people have enjoyed the likes of Tony Hadley, Chas & Dave and the SAS Band featuring Toyah Willcox and Queen’s Roger Taylor at the Wickham Festival. The four-day event, voted the best festival with a capacity of under 15,000, will be closed today by folk legends Lindisfarne and Steeleye Span – Continue reading…
• Chichester Observer: Review: SAS Band and Trevor Horn Band at the Wickham Festival: I’m just back from the Wickham Festival where I’ve seen so many singers and musicians playing so many well-known hits, I’ve forgotten who I’ve seen and who I haven’t. Matt Cardle singing I’m Not In Love? Yes. Toyah Willcox doing It’s A Mystery? Yes. Fish singing Kayleigh? Roger Taylor with It’s A Kind of Magic? Yep, that too – Continue reading…
• Southern Daily Echo: Photos: Crowds enjoy Tony Hadley, Chas & Dave and more at Wickham Festival: Headliners were the SAS Band featuring Roger Taylor of Queen, Fish, Madeleine Bell and Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…
• Wickham Festival News: Roger Taylor of Queen joins Fish, Madeline Bell and Toyah Willcox on stage at Wickham Festival: It was a Kind of Magic as Roger Taylor of Queen brought the third day of the Wickham Festival to a fantastic finish. The rock legend provided guest vocals for the SAS Band at the end of a rousing set which saw Toyah Willcox, Fish and Madeline Bell perform their own and others’ hits – Continue reading…
• Wickham Festival News: Picture Gallery from Wickham Festival: Check out our pictures from the 2016 Wickham Festival… see if you can spot yourself! – Continue reading…
• Toyah @ Wickham Festival 2016: Toyah and The SAS Band performing David Bowie’s Suffragette City – Watch at You Tube… Toyah and The SAS Band performing I Want To Be Free – Watch at You Tube…
• Browse all of Dreamscape’s “Toyah @ Wickham Festival 2016” here.
Toyah talks returning to Wickham Festival 2016, playing with The SAS Band, performing a David Bowie song, the new musical Crime and Punishment, and much more in an interview at the festival… Toyah Willcox returned to Wickham Festival in 2016 to perform with SAS Band.
Toyah and The SAS Band perform a great version of David Bowie’s Suffragette City on Saturday at Wickham Festival. The first time Toyah has sang a Bowie song onstage! (Thanks to Colin Noller)
The SAS Band hope to crown their headline appearance at the Wickham Festival this weekend with a special tribute to the music stars who have died in 2016.
Already this year fans have mourned the passing of David Bowie, Prince and Maurice White from Earth, Wind and Fire among others. Spike’s All Star Band is made up of varying big name artists who play their own and other musicians’ hits for a great party atmosphere and Madeline Bell, pictured, who will be appearing with them tomorrow night, is planning a fitting send-off.
One of the great joys of playing festivals for Bell – and for Fish who will also be part of the SAS line-up at Wickham – is the chance to meet up with old friends in a happy environment.
The pair will be joined at Wickham by Toyah Willcox and Queen drummer Roger Taylor for what is sure to be a magical night.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo. NB: Toyah was rehearsing with The SAS Band this week and tweeted that she will be performing a David Bowie song.
Quadrophenia: Sky Select HD: Sunday 14th August: 1.45pm
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone. (Sky Select HD is on Sky Channel 312)
More air dates/times for the New Romantic episode of Trailblazers, following the premiere on Friday 12th August on Sky Arts.
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Sunday 14th August: 00.45am Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Sunday 14th August: 8pm Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Tuesday 16th August: 3am New Romantics. Toyah Willcox and Billy Bragg are among those examining the New Romantic movement, from The Human League and Adam Ant, to David Bowie and Ultravox. (New Episode, Series 1, Episode 16)
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Monday 15th August: 1pm Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Tuesday 16th August: 8am Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury.
1980s music icon Toyah turns up at Guisborough cafe for pie, mash, peas and gravy
Toyah chose to eat at Guisborough’s Pie in the Sky cafe – little knowing that boss Sarah Cook was a huge fan
A 1980s music icon chose a Guisborough cafe for a pie and peas lunch – little knowing its boss is a huge fan of hers. Toyah and three band members ate at the Pie in the Sky cafe yesterday, ahead of a gig at The Longlands in Middlesbrough last night.
And for cafe boss Sarah Cook, it was a dream come true, as she is a massive Toyah fan. But it was nearly a case of mistaken for some of the cafe’s younger staff members.
• Hampshire Chronicle: Chas & Dave and more at Wickham Festival: Thousands of people have enjoyed the likes of Tony Hadley, Chas & Dave and the SAS Band featuring Toyah Willcox and Queen’s Roger Taylor at the Wickham Festival. The four-day event, voted the best festival with a capacity of under 15,000, will be closed today by folk legends Lindisfarne and Steeleye Span – 
