Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

The 16th edition of genre film festival unveils full line-up.

Film4 FrightFest will mark its 16th edition with its largest line-up ever, showcasing 76 films across five screens at the Vue West End in Leicester Square from Aug 27-31.

This year’s line-up features 20 world premieres, a record-breaking 16 European premieres and 26 UK premieres, with 18 countries represented. In addition, there will be a further ‘Discovery’ strand at The Prince Charles Cinema, marking a return to the festival’s original home.

World premieres at this year’s FrightFest include Paul Hyett’s creature feature Howl, anthology A Christmas Horror Story, Steve Oram’s comedy Aaaaaaaah! and Liam Regan’s revenge thriller Banjo, while European premieres include Ben Cresciman’s Sun Choke, Paz Brothers’ Jeruzalem and Adam Mason’s Hangman.

• Continue reading at Screen Daily.

• Great Yarmouth Mercury: New programme for St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth: St George’s have released their new brochure for the rest of the year and what an array of shows they have coming up – Going into the autumn, the theatre has two headliners in ‘Toyah Willcox’ and ‘Lesley Garrett’, early booking is advised for these two as tickets are already selling fast – Continue reading…

• Nottingham Post: Pop nostalgia weekend at Clumber Park in August: Stars of the Seventies and Eighties will line up at Clumber Park for a weekend of pop nostalgia – The Flashback Festival, now in its sixth year, will include two separate concerts. Sheffield synthpop pioneers the Human League will headline the Eighties line-up on Saturday, August 22, joined by Marc Almond, Jason Donovan, 5 Star, Toyah and The Doctor of Doctor & The Medics – Continue reading…

• Bristol Theatre: Toyah – Loud, Proud & Electric!: Don´t miss TOYAH – Loud, Proud & Electric! Shortly showing at the renowned Fleece – With many people in Bristol and from other places hoping to visit Fleece, make sure you purchase a ticket today rather than tomorrow so you can avoid regret. Don’t miss this fantastic show! – Continue reading…

• Official Gig Guide: Browse Toyah’s full concert diary for the remainder of 2015 at toyahwillcox.com…

Huge online reporting of the FrightFest 2015 Line-Up Announcement. Aaaaaaaah! is, of course, mentioned in them all – and some include the still of Toyah from the film.

• Horror Channel: FrightFest 2015 Serves Up A Fearsome Feast With A Record 76 Films, Embracing 20 World And 42 UK And European Premieres: FrightFest always takes great pride in platforming the brightest British and Irish talent and 2015 is an outstanding year. Apart from opening with David Keating’s Cherry Tree, there is the world premiere of Steve Oram’s hilarious and very disturbing AAAAAAAAH! – Continue reading…

• SciFiNow: Film4 FrightFest 2015 line-up is announced! So many horrors!: The massive line-up for Film4 FrightFest 2015 has arrived, and there’s so much to see… Steve Oram’s beserk-looking AAAAAAAAH! makes its world premiere – Continue reading…

• Failed Critics: Film4 FrightFest 2015 Preview: In the discovery screen 1 – Aaaaaaaah! from Steve Oram looks worth a watch, starring Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…

• Entertainment-Focus: Film4 Frightfest returns for 2015: Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its biggest line-up to date. From Thurs 27th August to Mon 31st August, the UK’s leading event for genre fans will return to the Vue West End, Leicester Square to present 76 films across five screens, plus a host of special events – Continue reading…

• Britflicks: Film4 FrightFest Announces Full 2015 Line-Up: Bigger, bolder, bloodier…Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its largest line-up ever – Continue reading…

• Scream: Film4 FrightFest Reveals Full 2015 Killer Line-Up: Film4 FrightFest, the UK’s undefeated heavy-weight champion of genre festivals, is all set to serve up its 16th helping of the finest in home-grown and international horror at London’s West End at the Vue, Leicester Square, between August 27th – 31st – Continue reading…

• Dread Central: Film4 FrightFest 2015: Line-up Announced; Image Blow-Out!: One of the best damned film festivals on the planet, Film4 FrightFest, has unveiled its 2015 line-up; and as always, it is absolutely killer. Read on for the details and DOZENS of new stills – Continue reading…

• Aaaaaaaah! @ Dreamscape: Browse all of our Aaaaaaaah! news here…

Bigger, bolder, bloodier… Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its largest line-up ever. From Thurs 27 August to Mon 31 August, the UK’s leading event for genre fans will return to the Vue West End, Leicester Square, to present seventy-six films across five screens, plus a host of special events. There are eighteen countries representing five continents with a record-breaking sixteen European premieres and twenty-six UK premieres. In addition, there is a further ‘Discovery’ strand at The Prince Charles Cinema, signalling a welcome return to FrightFest’s spiritual home.

This week in 1985 Soul Passing Through Soul – Toyah’s second single as a solo artist, stats fans – was in the lower reaches of the UK Singles Chart. It was written by “Willcox/St James” and taken from the album Minx, which would go on to be released at the end of July. Some (not me) say it was influenced by/is reminiscent of David Bowie’s Heroes.

Soul Passing Through Soul was released on 7″, 12″ and 7″ Picture Disc, and was accompanied by a great video, with fantastic visuals – something Toyah always was, and indeed still is, known for…

A new Region 2, two-disc, DVD of Quatermass has just been released by Network DVD. Retailing at approximately £12.

Toyah had a small role, in the production, as Sal. The series was made by Euston Films, filmed in 1978 and aired on ITV in October and November 1979

John Mills brings a stoic intensity to the role of Professor Bernard Quatermass in this key piece of British dystopian fiction from visionary writer Nigel Kneale. Unsettling in its vision of a crumbling society coming under alien attack, Quatermass is directed with characteristic style by BAFTA winner Piers Haggard and features the high production values associated with Euston Films. Shot on 35mm, the original negatives have been used for this stunning, brand-new restoration – a new 5.1 mix from original triple-track audio elements is also presented here alongside the original mono soundtrack.

Bernard Quatermass, former head of the British Rocket Group, lives in seclusion in western Scotland, watching in appalled silence as Britain slowly turns into a vision of violence, gang rule and governmental collapse. A desperate search for his missing granddaughter plunges him into a terrifying situation when he comes to realise that the mass disappearance of thousands of youths is nothing less than the culling of the human species by an unknown alien intelligence…

Special Features:
• Brand-new 5.1 mix for episodic version
• Brand-new HD restoration of The Quatermass Conclusion in its original theatrical aspect ratio
• Music-only tracks for all four episodes
• Episode recaps
• Textless titles
• Image Gallery
• Booklet by archive TV historian Andrew Pixley

Further Info: Catalogue Number: 7954328, Available Since: 22/06/2015, Classification: 15, Number of Discs: 2, Picture: 1.33:1 / Colour [Main Feature], Sound: Dolby 5.1 / Mono / English, Subtitles: English, Region 2 / PAL, Time: 200 mins approx [Main Feature]

• Visit the product page at the Network DVD website. (Thanks to Giddy Gavin)

As our regular readers will be aware, we’ve been getting more than a little over-excited about Aaaaaaah! for some time – and now the details of the World Premiere have been announced.

Steve Oram‘s directorial debut comedy horror, about a world inhabited by apes in human form, will star a cavalcade of comedic TVO-connected talent (and post-punk icon Toyah Willcox), including Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding (or “Noah Fielding” according to this site), Alice Lowe, Tom Meeten, Steve Oram, Sean Reynard, Waen Shepherd, John Hopkins and Tony Way.

The film premieres at Film 4 FrightFest at Leicester Square – and you can be there to experience it on the big screen in person! What’s more, the event will feature a Q&A with some of the cast. Steve and Toyah are confirmed for this, but there’s no news yet as to which other cast members will be there.

• Continue reading at The Velvet Onion.

• Official Toyah: Recent Photos – Chris Wong and Colin Hinds at John Shuttleworth & Friends’ Palladium concert; and Toyah (making music) with Simon Darlow – View these and more at Toyah’s official Website, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. (Photos © Toyah Willcox)

• Mearns Leader: What’s On Where: September: 18-19 Toyah that vivacious singer from the 80s is out on tour and every bit as good as before and looking fantastic. Exclusive to Stonehaven Town Hall for two nights only (only dates north of Edinburgh in 2015), support from our very own Leighann Esslemont and Band. Tickets £25 will be on sale at Ma Simpson’s or online – Continue reading…

• The Irish News: Time for the Bill as Limboland comes to Ireland: An interview with Bill Bailey, including a mention for Toyah – both played at London Palladium last week with John Shuttleworth – Continue reading…

• Bloody Disgusting: Aaaaaaaah!: Toyah, with that frying pan! – Continue…

• The Lee Mack Show: Toyah guests in 2005. It’s available to listen to at BBC iPlayer for the next three weeks.

• A View From The Centre: Nostalgia: Pictured is the first copy of the Vegetarian Society’s bi-monthly membership magazine. Featured within was an article on the then recently launched Ark Trust environmental organisation containing an interview with and photograph of Toyah Willcox; also a photo of Chrissie Hynde, Kevin Godley and others – Continue reading…

Minder: ITV4: Friday 17th July: 6.45am
All Mod Cons. Arthur decides to sell Terry’s flat without his permission. Meanwhile, Terry gets a job minding at a local club and ends up getting into more trouble than he had planned for when he realises the club’s manager is on the fiddle. Starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Toyah Willcox, Simon Cadell, James Ottaway, and Tony Osaba. (Series 2, Episode 8, 1980). Also showing on ITV4 HD and ITV4 +1.

Toyah’s July blog is available at The Official Toyah Willcox Website. Including news on Aaaaaaaah!, performing at the London Palladium and more. Click below to read the blog and view photos from the last month.

Released today (2nd July) in 1982: Nine To Five

Shameless cash-in of the month for July comes courtesy of this 1982 single from EG records. Nine To Five was recorded in 1977 for the soundtrack album of the following year’s Derek Jarman movie ‘Jubilee’, which featured among its cast members a number of British punk rock artists. The track itself was credited to Maneaters, but was performed by Adam Ant and Toyah Willcox, both of whom had yet to have a hit at the time. Then, after years of trying, they both had their breakthrough hits within months of each other: Adam & The Ants had their first Top 10 hit at the end of 1980 and Toyah had theirs in March 1981, and both acts had several more in the twelve months that followed. Two of Adam’s former labels had already plundered his catalogue recordings for reissues, and now it was EG’s turn.

For the single, EG billed the song as being by ‘Adam and Toyah’ and advertised it as being available in a “special picture bag”. Both artists objected to the release and the way in which it was marketed.

• Continue reading at If You Were There.

Hot – yup it is exceedingly hot at the moment etc. ;) – on the heels of last month’s Breaking Through newsletter, comes another! With juicy Toyah updates on Aaaaaaaah! and more… including:

• Toyah will host a screening of, the Derek Jarman inspired, The Raft of the Medusa at Barbican, London on Thursday 16th July – Further details/tickets here…

• Toyah will appear at the Celebrity Autograph Convention event at Viva Blackpool on 24 October along with other cast members from Quadrophenia – Further details/tickets here…

• A trio of classic Toyah albums – Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow – will be available digitally in August. Full details to follow.

• Subscribe: Sign up to ‘Breaking Through’, to receive regular newsletter updates, here.

It’s the final day of Toyah’s week-long Tracks Of My Years residency with Ken Bruce at BBC Radio Two. The full week of programmes are available at BBC iPlayer until the end of July.

Ken Bruce: BBC Radio Two: Friday 3rd July: 9.30am
Toyah Willcox picks the Tracks of My Years, with songs from Peter Gabriel and U2. Plus PopMaster, the daily Love Song and the Album and Record of the Week. Email ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk.

Things are hotting up – and yes speaking of heat, phew!, it has been ridiculously, over-the-top, warm in the UK this week, hasn’t it – for the forthcoming Aaaaaaaah! with no less than the legendary Variety reporting on the film – and including a great shot of Toyah too.

‘Aaaaaaaah!,’ ‘Scherzo Diabolico,’ ‘Curve’ Among Highlights at FrightFest

Toyah Willcox wields the pan in Steve Oram’s ‘Aaaaaaaah!’

MUNICH — Film4 FrightFest, the U.K.’s leading genre film festival, promises to be “bigger, bolder and bloodier” in its 16th year with its largest ever lineup. The gorefest, which runs Aug. 27-31, will present 76 films across five screens, plus a host of special events. There are 16 European premieres and 26 U.K. premieres.

Among the films from British and Irish talent receiving a showcase are David Keating’s “Cherry Tree”; the world premiere of Steve Oram’s hilarious and disturbing “Aaaaaaaah!,” starring Toyah Willcox; Dominic Brunt’s sharp-edged female revenge saga “Bait”; Ben and Chris Blaine’s sexually charged zom-rom-com “Nina Forever”; Mark Murphy’s tale of twisted minds “Awaiting”; Paul Hyett’s much-anticipated “Howl”; Adam Levins’ sinister family drama “Estranged”; Howard J. Ford’s child-abduction thriller “Never Let Go”; Corin Hardy’s Sundance sensation “The Hallow”; Ruth Platt’s morally challenging chiller “The Lesson”; Liam Regan’s gruesome revenge saga “Banjo”; Eugene McGing’s supernatural haunter “The Unfolding”; and “Afterdeath,” a hellish thriller by new directors Gez Medinger and Robin Schmidt.

• Continue reading at Variety. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Aaaaaaaah! news here.

The Official Toyah Willcox Website’s news on the premiere of Aaaaaaaah!

The much anticipated Steve Oram film AAAAAAAAH! will receive an official premiere on Friday 28 August 2015 at 18.35. There is a Q&A with some of the cast planned as part of the premiere.

The film with no dialogue stars Julian Barratt, Steve Oram, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Noel Fielding, Alice Lowe, Toyah Willcox, Sean Reynard, Tom Meeten, Holli Dempsey, Shelly Longworth and Tony Way. Written and directed by Steve Oram / Produced by Lincoln Studios. Featuring music by King Crimson ProjecKts.

FrightFest is the UK’s biggest, best and most renowned genre festival is now a globally recognised brand and its sixteenth year sees yet another enhancement of its core mission to bring the finest in home-grown and international fear to the dark heart of London’s West End at the Vue, Leicester Square, between 27-31 August.

• Continue reading at www.toyahwillcox.com. Visit the FrightFest 2015 website.

Like Punk Never Happened: Smash Hits Archive has been continuing to upload retro issues of ‘Smash Hits’ magazine 30 years to the day they were originally published in the UK.

Various “recent” issues have included Toyah – Minx and its related singles were being released around this time back in 1985.

• Smash Hits, June 19 – July 2, 1985: This issue includes a full-page advert for the single Soul Passing Through Soul. Toyah is also included in the feature – “Who Is Pop’s Mr Clever Trousers?” – Read the issue here…

• Smash Hits, June 5 – 18, 1985: Toyah is included in the feature – “Oh! You’re Not As Tall As You Are On The Telly!” – Read the issue here…

• Smash Hits, May 22 – June 4, 1985: This issue includes the feature – “Toyah: Personal File” – Toyah answers lots of slightly odd questions, such as “When was the last time you saw a spirit?“. This was Toyah’s second “Personal File” for ‘Smash Hits’, the other was in early 1983 –  Read the issue here…

• Smash Hits, May 8 – 21, 1985: This issue includes the songwords for the single Don’t Fall in Love (I Said) – Read the issue here…

• Smash Hits, April 24 – May 7, 1985: This issue includes a full-page advert for the single Don’t Fall in Love (I Said) – Read the issue here…

It’s Day Four (already!) of Toyah’s Tracks Of My Years on BBC Radio Two with Ken Bruce.

Ken Bruce: BBC Radio Two: Thu 2nd July: 9.30am
Toyah Willcox picks the Tracks of My Years, with songs from Lana Del Rey and Simon and Garfunkel. Plus PopMaster, daily Love Song and the Album & Record of the Week. Email ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk.

• BBC iPlayer: Listen to Monday’s show here, Tuesday’s here, yesterday’s here, and today’s, live at the BBC Radio Two website from 9.30am, here.

• Toyah @ Twitter: Toyah is working with Simon Darlow. She tweeted a photo, saying: “In the studio with Darlow. So incredibly excited” – Continue to Twitter…

• Catmachine: Five Years On: I can’t believe that it’s already five years since I wrote the first blog in the I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan series, a series which turned into a book self-published on kindle and paperback – Continue reading…

• Scottish Daily Mail: Radio Choice: Toyah Willcox, who’s been touring the UK with the three-piece band The Humans, joins Ken Bruce (Radio 2, 9.30am) this week to pick her Tracks Of My Years. Toyah begins with songs from T. Rex and Kate Bush.

• England Events: Aylesbury: Live in the Park – part of Parklife Weekend: August 29, 2015 at Vale Park. in Aylesbury – Vale Park will be filled with continuous live music performed on a large outdoor stage by 80’s pop star TOYAH and a number of fantastic local bands playing an array of musical styles and genres from rockabilly, punk and new wave to well-known pop and rock covers – Continue reading…

• The Oxonian Review: An Insubstantial Pageant: A Question of Perspective in The Tempest – The effectiveness of putting Shakespeare on film is a vexed question. There are certainly those who find that all those words hang heavy in such a visual medium as cinema. More plentiful, though, are those who think that adding pictures to the supple and ambiguous wordscapes of the plays is a violent reductiveness – Continue reading…

Ken Bruce: BBC Radio Two: Wednesday 1st July: 9.30am
Toyah Willcox picks the Tracks of My Years, with songs from David Bowie and Tasmin Archer. Plus PopMaster, daily Love Song and the Album & Record of the Week. Email ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk.

Ken Bruce: BBC Radio Two: Tuesday 30th June: 9.30am
Toyah Willcox picks the Tracks of My Years, with songs from Adele and the Moody Blues. Plus PopMaster, daily Love Song and the Album & Record of the Week. Email ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk.

Toyah’s week of choosing her “Tracks Of My Years”, on Ken Bruce’s BBC Radio Two show, begins this morning. The programme can be listened to online at the BBCR2 website and will be available, post-airing, at BBC iPlayer. Toyah will choose two songs each day until Friday.

Ken Bruce: BBC Radio Two: Monday 29th June: 9.30am
Toyah Willcox picks the Tracks of My Years, with songs from T.Rex and Kate Bush. Plus PopMaster, the daily Love Song and the Album and Record of the Week. Email ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk.