Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah’s brief appearance, from early December, on ITV1’s Lorraine is still available to watch online at the ITV website.

More than half a million people have been checking out our Little Black Dress Diet – and there are just two days to go until our finale on Thursday! Today it’s all about last-minute tips, and to get us in the Christmas mood, Jane Wake has enlisted the help of panto stars Gareth Gates and Toyah Willcox to show us some great simple arm exercises.

Toyah’s first blog of the year is now available to read at toyahwillcox.com. Toyah talks Sleeping Beauty, ‘Sensational’ (there could be a full video made), touring plans for 2013 (Hormonal Housewives and the Toyah band) and pays tribute to Alfie Fripp.

• Indie London: Hormonal Housewives: A second national tour of Hormonal Housewives will visit New Wimbledon Theatre on April 19, 2013. With previous Hormonal Housewives including Margi Clark and Carol Smillie, 2013’s ladies will be led by British pop icon Toyah Willcox and writer Julie Coombe, with further casting to be announced.

• Official Blog: Toyah talks Hormonal Housewives in her latest missive: “I am getting ready to tour Hormonal Housewives, dealing with the  press for 67 dates, all in different towns.”

• Asda: Win! One of 25 pairs of tickets to watch Hormonal Housewives at a venue near you. (you may have to enable cookies first before entering the competition). There’s another link to this at Competition Hunter.

• Facebook: Visit the Hormonal Housewives Facebook page.

Toyah tours the UK from the beginning of March to the end of May in Hormonal Housewives. The full dates, over 70 in total, are available at the show’s website and the Official Gigs page at toyahwillcox.com. There has already been online press reports on the tour, including the Lancaster Guardian, This is Total Essex and the Brighouse Echo.

The All-Star Request issue (January 6 – 19 1983) of Smash Hits magazine was published 30 years ago today. This included ‘Ieya’ by Toyah and many other songword favourites. The complete issue has just been uploaded to the Smash Hits Archive.

‘Sensational’ is currently playing on numerous UK television and radio channels…

Toyah is mentioned in ‘SFX’ magazine’s review of Doctor Who: The Legacy Collection box set, referring to one of her appearances in More Than 30 years In The TARDIS when she says she found the Cybermen “sexy”.

More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS is an extended version of a documentary that celebrated Who‘s 30th anniversary. An impressive array of talking heads includes celebrity curveballs like Toyah Willcox perving over Cybermen. Dramatic sequences riff on classic Who moments, with, for example, First Doctor companion Carole Ann Ford purused by flying Daleks…

(Thanks to James Armstrong for the scan)

The Express have paid tribute to the remarkable Alfie Fripp, Uncle of Robert, who passed away this week.

Obituary: Alfie Fripp, Britain’s Oldest Surviving POW, June 13 1913 – January 3 2013

It was October 13, 1939, and nearly six weeks after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany Alfie Fripp and his fellow Blenheim crewmen found themselves at the mercy of the Luftwaffe who had shot down their aircraft.

• Continue reading at Express.co.uk.

It’s the first Gallery update of 2013! Sensational photos of Toyah, Gareth Gates and some of the Sleeping Beauty cast. These shots were taken on Wednesday. View larger versions at Dreamscape’s Gallery. (Photos © Brian Marsh Photography | Thanks to Brian)

• Great Toyah art for 2013 by Colin Dewhurst. Click on the photo to view a larger version. (Thanks again to Colin)

• Toyah @ Twitter: “I’m lovin 2013 already! Phone ringing off the hook…..busy busy bee! Very interesting projects in the offering“, “Crazy day: dealing with 4 national publications, put chapter in Jarman book 2 bed“.

• The Guardian: Why we should all mourn the loss of Gaydar Radio: Toyah is mentioned in this article on the demise of ‘Gaydar Radio’: …or hearing Phil, the evening presenter, confess that he’s been to his 7,000th Toyah Willcox concert.

• Doctor Who Online : A comprehensive review of The Legacy Collection, (which includes Toyah in More Than Than 30 Years In The TARDIS), the DVD box set just about to be released worldwide.

• Daily Mail: Toyah was the subject of one of the questions in the Mail’s Christmas quiz, Mike Read’s Poptastic Puzzlers.

• Sensational: As well as airing all over the tellybox, the Weight Watchers’ ad featuring Patsy Kensit and Toyah’s ‘Sensational’ is also on the radio. (Thanks to Michael & Sharon)

• This is Kent: A Feast of Pantomimes: Christmas may seem a lifetime away now, but the festive spirit continues into the new year with a feast of pantomimes. The Marlowe Theatre’s spectacular pantomime Sleeping Beauty, starring pop idol Gareth Gates, punk singer Toyah Willcox and Margate born comedian Lloyd Hollett runs until January 20.

• This is Kent: Pupils Pepper Panto Stars with Questions: Theatre group the Marlowe Spotlighters cast a critical eye over this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, after interviewing the stars of the show.

Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas aired on ‘BBC Radio 2’ on the 20th December. An interesting look back at the golden years of the magazine, including contributions from Toyah, talking about ‘Smash Hits’ in general as well as her iconic “Brave New World” cover from 1982. The programme has now been deleted from iPlayer and isn’t being repeated any time soon. Click below to listen to a recording of the programme that’s recently been added to You Tube.

2012 was another great year for rare and unseen Toyah photos sporadically surfacing. There were some really amazing shots and here are just some of them. Check out Dreamscape’s Classic Toyah posts to view more as well as larger versions of these. (Thanks to Andi)

The New Year’s Day edition of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour was a look back at the last 12 months of the show, including Toyah’s guest appearance from January 2012 when she discussed punk.

Toyah appears at approximately 19-minutes into the programme, though Tori Amos and Sinead O’Connor feature earlier so the entire hour is worth listening to.

The programme is available at BBC iPlayer until Tuesday. (Thanks to Zoe Evans)

Twenty Four From Toyah was Toyah’s Christmas gift to fans. Featuring a selection of unreleased live songs from various gigs and tours spanning 1993 to 2012. Not only celebrating Toyah’s live history over the past 20 years but marking the end of three recent highly successful UK tours commemorating Toyah’s amazing Safari albums from ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ to ‘The Changeling’.

Side One: 1993-2006: 1. It’s A Mystery (Acoustic, Take The Leap! sessions, 1993), 2. Dreamchild (Acoustic Dreamchild Tour, Burgess Hill 1994), 3. Now And Then (Acoustic Dreamchild Tour, Burgess Hill 1994), 4 Unkind (Acoustic Dreamchild Tour, Burgess Hill 1994), 5. Let Me Go (Acoustic Dreamchild Tour, Burgess Hill 1994), 6 Out Of The Blue (Has God Ceased To Dream You Tour, Plymouth 1994), 7. Moonlight Dancing (Has God Ceased To Dream You Tour, Plymouth 1994), 8. Something Good (Ronnie Scott’s, London 2002), 9. Strange (Ronnie Scott’s, London 2002), 10. Little Tears Of Love (Ronnie Scott’s, London 2002), 11. Obsolete (Acoustic Faith & Music sessions, 2006), 12. Neon Womb (Acoustic Faith & Music sessions, 2006).

Side Two: 2011-2012: 13. War Boys (FSFTA, London 2011), 14. Blue Meanings (FSFTA, London 2011), 15. Elusive Stranger (FSFTA, London 2011), 16. Pop Star (FSFTA, Oxford 2011), 17. Masai Boy (FSFTA, Oxford 2011), 18. Demolition Men (FSFTA, Shorham 2011), 19. Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel In You) ( FSFTA, Manchester 2011), 20. Castaways ( TCR, London 2012), 21. Voodoo Doll (TCR, London 2012), 22. Bird In Flight ( Manchester 2012), 23. Rebel Run (Minehead 2012), 24. Angel & Me (TCRII, Brighton 2012).

• Listen to the complete ‘Twenty Four From Toyah’ album at Soundcloud. Download the album cover and a booklet with photos and song information at toyahwillcox.com. Thanks to Toyah, and the Official Toyah Website, for this great gift!

For those that are still feeling even slightly festive. Toyah’s panto, Sleeping Beauty at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, continues way through until Sunday 20th January. Dates and ticket info is available at The Marlowe’s website. Check out Dreamscape’s bumper Sleeping Beauty news section, and read all the great reviews for the show, and Toyah.

Wishing all our friends, readers and news/photo contributors a very Happy New Year. Here’s hoping 2013 brings lots of Toyah music, gigs, appearances, press, tv, radio..!

Welcome to our final update of 2012! Happy New Year’s Eve/Hogmanay to each and every person who takes the time to visit this website. Wishing you a happy, successful and Toyah-filled 2013. It’s the 30th anniversary of Toyah’s glorious ‘Love Is The Law’ album! Can’t wait…

Toyah’s Christmas Countdown was fully revealed and completed on Christmas Eve. Browse Twenty Four From Toyah at Soundcloud.

A great selection of rare live Toyah recordings from 1993 to 2012.

Download the digital artwork as well as a Twenty Four From Toyah booklet at toyahwillcox.com.

Phil Spalding has wished all of Dreamscape’s visitors a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from himself and his partner Helen.

Thanks to Phil for the great photo. Please click here to view a larger version.

Look out for the launch of Phil’s new website, philspalding.com, which will be launching in early 2013.

• Sleeping Beauty: Toyah’s 2012/13 panto, at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, continues for another three weeks. The production runs until Sunday 20th January.

• This is Kent: Fairytale romance has happy ending: Love was in the air when panto star Lloyd Hollett proposed to his girlfriend live on stage. The comedian wasn’t joking when he sank to his knees before a sell-out audience of 1,200 to pop the question. She had been called on stage by Toyah Willcox, who is playing the evil queen, to be given a bouquet for helping with costume changes.

• This is Kent: Panto Proposal: It was a magical evening at the Marlowe Theatre on Thursday, December 27 when comedian Lloyd Hollett proposed to his girlfriend Dannii Williams. Before the final song, punk singer Toyah Willcox called wardrobe assistant Dannii onto the stage to present her with a bouquet of flowers, before Lloyd got down on one knee.

• Sleeping Beauty Proposal: View a short video clip of Lloyd proposing to Dannii at ‘You Tube’.

• Canterbury People: Win two tickets to Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre: The competition ends on Friday 4 January 2013.

Toyah guested on Marlow FM’s ‘Musical Milestones’ on The Eclectic Light Show on Monday afternoon. Toyah talks about her life and career and chooses six songs along the way. As this aired on Christmas Eve and the station doesn’t have a Listen Again function some of you may not have heard it so I’ve uploaded a low quality mp3 of the 30-minute special. Click below to listen/download.