Just a reminder that Psychic Therapy, Bio’s one-hour special on Toyah which was originally broadcast in September 2009, airs again today.
Psychic Therapy: Toyah Willcox: Bio: Fri 20th April: 1pm Toyah Willcox. Gordon Smith journeys into the remarkably diverse career of Toyah Willcox – singer, actress, presenter, writer and businesswoman. Psychic medium, Smith, reveals some of the star’s innermost secrets, delving into her past and predicting her future with help from the spirit world.
Three Piece Suite was a six part series of half hour programmes, all starring Diana Rigg. Each show was cut up into three 10 minute plays. Toyah plays a character called Buzz in Episode Five, This Situation…! It also featured George Baker and aired on BBC2 in April 1977.
Toyah’s debut theatre role, playing Emma in Tales From The Vienna Woods, with The National Theatre Company, at The Laurence Olivier Theatre, London was an audacious beginning. The production had a large cast and also starred Stephen Rea, Warren Clarke, Brenda Blethyn and Elizabeth Spriggs. It was directed by Maximilian Schell and opened on 21st January 1977.
Toyah’s first professional acting role, first television appearance, first music performances – all included in Glitter, a 30 minute drama from the BBC’s ‘Second City Firsts’. Also appearing are Phil Daniels, Noel Edmonds and Doremy Vernon (probably best remembered as the Canteen Manager in Are You Being Served?). Toyah’s character, Sue, also performs two songs with the band Bilbo Baggins, ‘Floating Free’ and ‘Heartbreaker’. Further info on Glitterhere.
‘BBC Hereford & Worcester’ have rejigged a recent Toyah BBC radio interview, mixed in lashings of great Toyah songs as the soundtrack, and added it to their “BBC Introducing…” page last night. Toyah talks ‘The Changeling’, the tour, the supernatural, punk and more.
Songs played: Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard), Brave New World, Don’t Fall In Love (I Said), I Want To Be Free, Rebel Run. Running Time: 7m 38s.
The, just revealed, artwork for The Derek Jarman Collection 5 disc DVD set. This includes Jubilee and The Tempest and will be released in Australia (but available to everyone thanks to the internet) on 2nd May 2012.
A collection of five astonishing films from a visionary British filmmaker:
Jubilee (1978) Queen Elizabeth I travels to late twentieth-century Britain to discover a tawdry and depressing landscape where life mostly seems aimless and is anyway held cheap. Three post-punk girls while away their vacuous existence as best they can, from time-to-time straying into murder to relieve the boredom.
The Tempest (1979) Jarman’s Tempest is the story of Miranda’s growth from girlhood to woman; Prospero has retreated to a world of ideas but it is cold and loveless, he condemns Caliban as a monster but all Jarman’s Caliban is guilty of is possessing carnal appetites, the same appetites which Miranda is starting to discover for herself.
Gareth Gates and Toyah head to Canterbury for Marlowe Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty
Panto fans are in for a real treat again at the Marlowe Theatre – it’s been revealed Gareth Gates and Toyah Willcox will be heading to Canterbury for Sleeping Beauty.
Pop Idol runner up Gareth and Dancing on Ice star Gareth and former “punk princess” Toyah will be joined by Katrina Bryan, better known as Nina from the CBeebies series Nina and the Neurons, and Ben Roddy. Last year’s production of Cinderella was seen by a record-breaking number of people (more than 83,000).
The official ‘Changeling Resurrection’ tour page has been updated with some, amazing, new photos by Dean Stockings. Posed shots and onstage photos. Prepare to be dazzled!
NB: Tour Update: Doors for tomorrow’s show in Bristol and all other shows will be opening at 7pm (not 7.30pm as previously stated) with first support slot at 7.05pm.
More brilliantly colourful photos of Toyah, and band, from Brighton. Please click on each of the below to view larger versions. (Thanks again to Sharon Dickson)
• I’ve lost count of the number of times Minder has been reissued on DVD over the last 12 years. This latest box set is a goodie though: Minder: The Dennis Waterman Years. A 20 disc set featuring every episode (68), from the ‘classic’ series, with Arthur and Terry. Toyah, of course, plays Kate in Series Two, Episode Eight, ‘All Mod Cons’, which is included in this, recently released, set.
• ‘The Acoustic Album’ version of ‘Danced’ was included in the playlist for Dark Night Of The Soul with Julie last night on ‘WFMU’. View here.
Hot on the heels of the launch of the page and all the fantastic live photos, Toyah’s Official Facebook updated with an exciting post this afternoon: some AMAZING updates coming to The Changeling Resurrection page at toyahwillcox.com soon……….
Slightly odd hearing this performed live after 30 years. Singing these songs again after all this time must be cathartic for Toyah, especially as ‘The Changeling’ was an unhappy time. I’ll bet a few demons are being laid to rest. (Thanks to Claire Wheeler for uploading ‘The Packt’)
A brilliant photo of Toyah onstage at the Concorde2 on Saturday. Click on this to view a larger version. (Photo by Sharon Dickson | Please return later for more fantastic photos by Sharon)
Awash With Colour, from BBC2 September 2001, with Toyah learning to watercolour, has just been uploaded, in three parts, to ‘You Tube’. Click on each cap below to view each part.
The scenery in this programme is stunning. Presenter Dermot Cavanagh and Toyah visited Yeats’ country, Co. Sligo in Ireland. Toyah talks about her career. Toyah and Dermot then paint the picturesque Glencar Loch, set in the shadow of the majestic Benbulben Mountain. Toyah recalled an artist using watercolour on her face to create her ‘Brave New World’ look.
Reissue! Repackage! (Hello to any fans of The Smiths who visit here. Still my favourite band after 30 years)
I’ve received some emails asking if I’d make this available again. So, for those who missed it on Saturday… for a limited time only (humour me, please)…
Marking the beginning of ‘The Changeling Resurrection 2012’ UK tour: ‘CASTAWAYS: Four (live) from Toyah’ EP.
1. Dawn Chorus/Moonlight Dancing (6.55 Special)
2. Brave New World (Get Set For Summer)
3. Street Creature (Get Set For Summer)
4. Castaways (Get Set For Summer)
Click on the artwork to view the “EP” at ‘Soundcloud’.
These tracks are all already available online, in video, at ‘You Tube’. As the new tour opens I thought creating an “EP” from them, showcasing four great live performances from ‘The Changeling’ era, would be a fitting way to celebrate this great occasion. Click here for a larger version of the artwork.
NB: Three of these songs were included in the set list of last Saturday’s gig in Brighton.
Just a reminder that Psychic Therapy, Bio’s one-hour special on Toyah which was originally broadcast in September 2009, airs again today.
The, just revealed, artwork for The Derek Jarman Collection 5 disc DVD set. This includes Jubilee and The Tempest and will be released in Australia (but available to everyone thanks to the internet) on 2nd May 2012.
• I’ve lost count of the number of times Minder has been reissued on DVD over the last 12 years. This latest box set is a goodie though: Minder: The Dennis Waterman Years. A 20 disc set featuring every episode (68), from the ‘classic’ series, with Arthur and Terry. Toyah, of course, plays Kate in Series Two, Episode Eight, ‘All Mod Cons’, which is included in this, recently released, set.
