Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Such a busy week for Toyah – On Sunday she played Mello Festival, then jetted off to Gran Canaria for a Live PA at Maspalomas Pride on Thursday, then returned to the UK to play at Irlam Festival last night!

Today Toyah has TWO gigs – Playing the Wychwood Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse this afternoon, and an Acoustic, Up Close & Personal date at Acapela in Cardiff tonight.

Toyah is appearing on the Main Stage at Wychwood, on this second day of the festival, for a live PA.

Wychwood Festival returns to Cheltenham racecourse for its 14th annual year from the 1st to the 3rd of June, 2018.

The UK’s favourite family festival takes place within the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside, with over 100 acts performing across four stages, plus music, dance and arts workshops, a circus school and a programme of talks, debates and comedy for all ages.

With optional idyllic camping and something to satisfy all appetites, there’s no wonder Wychwood has been nominated as ‘Best Family Festival’ each year at the UK Festival awards.

From punk princess to cult stage actress to high priestess of TV, Toyah Willcox is a uniquely gifted performer and an inextinguishable flame. Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s iconic household names – an award-winning rock legend as well as a much-loved stage/screen actress and music composer.

In a career spanning over 40 years Toyah has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-four albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays, acted in twenty feature films and presented hundreds of television programmes.

2018 sees a major year of celebration for Toyah as she celebrates her 60th birthday and 40th anniversary of her music career. Her 1987 album Desire (featuring guest playing from Robert Fripp and Ronnie Wood) will be issued as a new limited edition translucent red vinyl LP on 21 April for Record Store Day 2018.

• Continue reading at the Wychwood Festival website. Stay updated on the festival this weekend at Twitter.

Many Happy Returns to Toyah, who is celebrating turning 60 today. Wishing Toyah a fun filled day and a wonderful future decade. #Toyah60

Toyah was a special guest for an In Conversation event at the Derby Film Festival 2018 on May 5th. She discussed her screen career and more at the festival, which also screened Jubilee and The Tempest as part of its programme. Here are photos from Toyah Willcox: In Conversation. Please click below to view larger versions and read all of our Derby Film Festival 2018 news here. (Thanks to Peter, pictured with Toyah, for the photos | Photos © Peter Beecham)

Just a day to go until Toyah’s 60th. Over the last few weeks we’ve been revisiting previous birthdays and retro content while counting down to 18th May. 12 years ago Dreamscape celebrated Toyah’s birthday with special updates all over the site. Click below to take a trip back to May 2006.

There is now less than one month to go until Toyah’s 60th Birthday. It’s a landmark event, just as her 50th was too. This site went cuurrazzzzy with content and birthday posts in the lead up to, and on, 18th May 08 – As did The Official Toyah Willcox Website – Actually they brought us a brand new, and quite stunning, website. Full of colour, info and Toyah goodies… Just sensational!

Derby Film Festival returns from May 4-13 with a host of special guests, film previews and events, as well as over 50 feature films.

Guests include actress and singer Toyah Willcox, Sir John Hurt’s widow Anwen Hurt who will introduce a preview screening of That Good Night, Hurt’s final leading role and Mandie Fletcher, who will discuss her career in film and television, directing classics of British television, from Butterflies, to Blackadder, Only Fools And Horses, Desmond’s, Absolutely Fabulous and Miranda, and the big screen, with Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie in 2016.

• Continue reading at Belper News. Browse more Toyah at Derby Film Festival news.

Tickets about to go on sale for Devizes Arts Festival

Tickets for this year’s Devizes Arts Festival go on sale on Monday (23) and chairman Margaret Bryant promise of something to suit everyone is likely to be kept.

The festival which runs from May 31 to June 17 is a unique mix of the sublime to the ridiculous with plenty in between.

The following couple of weeks will keep up the variety but many will be looking forward to welcoming Toyah to the Corn Exchange on the final Saturday (June 16) when the former punk princess will perform in the Corn Exchange from 8pm. In keeping with her punk roots this will be a standing only performance so people can sing and dance along to hits such as Good Morning Universe, Thunder In The Mountains and It’s A Mystery.

Tickets can be booked at devizesartsfestival.org.uk or at Devizes Books.

• Continue reading at the Gazette & Herald. (Photo © Nicola Salt/Gazette & Herald)

When Queen Elizabeth I (Jenny Runacre) asks her court alchemist John Dee (Richard O’Brien) to show her the future of England she is transported forward 400 years to 1978. She arrives to discover a post-apocalyptic society on the brink of collapse where girl gangs rove the streets indulging in casual murder, the police are openly fascistic, and public opinion is manipulated by all-powerful media moguls.

Forty years on from its first release Derek Jarman’s Jubilee remains the quintessential punk film, a daring and unique vision, featuring many icons of the punk era including festival guest Toyah Willcox, Little Nell, Wayne Country, Jordan, Adam Ant and many more.

You can attend the May 5th 7pm screening of Jubilee for free if purchasing a ticket for Toyah Willcox In Conversation at 5pm the same day. Call the box office on 01332 290606 to claim this offer.

• Continue reading at Derby QUAD. View the full programme at the Derby Film Festival website. Full info on/Book tickets for Toyah Willcox in Conversation taking place on Saturday 5th May at DFF.

Jarman brings sumptuous visual style and a measure of the punk spirit that informed Jubilee to this cinematic version of the Shakespeare text. Festival guest Toyah Willcox plays Miranda, who has been banished to a desolate island with her father Prospero (Heathcote Williams) by Alonso, King of Naples (Peter Bull). Prospero’s plans for revenge are complicated when Miranda falls in love with the king’s son Ferdinand (David Meyer). If you discount the very loose sci-fi adaptation Forbidden Planet this was the big screen’s first version of the play.

Screening as part of Derby Film Festival. Passes are available which allow entry to all events across the full ten days of the festival for just £80.

• Continue reading at Derby QUAD. View the full programme at the Derby Film Festival website. Full info on/Book tickets for Toyah Willcox in Conversation taking place on Saturday 5th May at DFF.

Following the news that Toyah will be a guest at the Derby Film Festival 2018 on Saturday 5th May – talking about her career in film and on screen – as part of Paracinema, the full programme of films and events has been announced, with Jubilee and The Tempest showing a number of times during the 10 day film fest.

Jubilee (15): UK, 1978: 106m. Dir: Derek Jarman
Saturday 5th May: 7pm, Tuesday 8th May: 12.10pm/8.35pm, Wednesday 9th May: 2.15pm/8.45pm

When Queen Elizabeth I (Jenny Runacre) asks her court alchemist John Dee (Richard O’Brien) to show her the future of England she is transported forward 400 years to 1978. She arrives to discover a post-apocalyptic society on the brink of collapse where girl gangs rove the streets indulging in casual murder, the police are openly fascistic, and public opinion is manipulated by all-powerful media moguls. Forty years on from its first release Derek Jarman’s Jubilee remains the quintessential punk film, a daring and unique vision, featuring many icons of the punk era including festival guest Toyah Willcox, Little Nell, Wayne Country, Jordan, Adam Ant and many more.

The Tempest (15): UK, 1979: 91m. Dir: Derek Jarman
Wednesday 9th May: 12pm/6pm, Thursday 10th May: 1.30pm/8.45pm

Jarman brings sumptuous visual style and a measure of the punk spirit that informed Jubilee to this cinematic version of the Shakespeare text. Festival guest Toyah Willcox plays Miranda, who has been banished to a desolate island with her father Prospero (Heathcote Williams) by Alonso, King of Naples (Peter Bull). Prospero’s plans for revenge are complicated when Miranda falls in love with the king’s son Ferdinand (David Meyer). If you discount the very loose sci-fi adaptation Forbidden Planet this was the big screen’s first version of the play.

• View the full programme at the Derby Film Festival website. Full info on/Book tickets for Toyah Willcox in Conversation.

Midlands Spotlight – Derby Film Festival 2018

The Derby Film Festival is back for its fifth edition taking place from 4th – 13th May 2018 and local audiences can expect another successful array of previews, classic films from the archive and a weekend dedicated to genres beyond the mainstream.

DFF are scouring the globe to find the best in world cinema as well as bringing some special guests to talk about their experiences in the film industry. As ever they’ll be home to the Five Lamps 24 hour film challenge 24/5, the contest to make a 3 minute film in 24 hours.

Over the opening weekend of Derby Film Festival, they also launch Paracinema Weekend, a long weekend dedicated to films and genres outside the mainstream. Events at Paracinema include an on-stage conversation with actress Toyah Willcox and a screening of Nosferatu in the grand surroundings of Derby Cathedral.

• Continue reading at Midlands Movies. Further info on Derby Film Festival and the Paracinema Festival 2018 here.

I’ve voted for my Top 10 singles today in The Official Toyah Website’s Toyah60 Poll. The ultimate Toyah Chart will be revealed as part of Toyah’s 60th Birthday celebrations next month. Seriously difficult to choose 10 from so many great songs but my Top 10 is: 1. Bird In Flight, 2.Ghost Light, 3. Jungles Of Jupiter, 4. Run Wild, Run Free, 5. Elusive Stranger, 6. Brave New World, 7. Symbiotic, 8. Time Is Ours. 9. Moonlight Dancing, 10. Love Me – Vote for yours by clicking below.

• Bubbling Under: Waiting, For You, Snow Covers The Kiss, Computer, Falling To Earth, Tears For Elie, Dreamscape, Pop Star, Danced, Visions, Dawn Chorus, Freedom, When A Woman Cries, Don’t Fall in Love (I Said), Angel In You, Race Through Space… etc… etc.

Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, QUAD launches the first edition of Paracinema, a festival dedicated to films and genres outside of the mainstream. Expect a steady diet of horror, sci-fi and fantasy but in addition to this Paracinema will be exploring other genres outside the mainstream with special guests, previews and talks on a whole range of unusual genres and subgenres.

Toyah Willcox In Conversation
Saturday 5th May at 5:00pm

It is hard to imagine a more perfect guest for the eclectic nature of Paracinema than Toyah Willcox. After gaining positive notices for her debut in the television play Glitter in 1976, Toyah then played the anarchic role of Mad in Derek Jarman’s seminal punk film Jubilee . From there she went on to appear alongside Katherine Hepburn in the TV movie The Corn Is Green, in the mod classic Quadrophenia as Monkey and reteamed with Jarman in his Shakespeare adaptation The Tempest. Genre fans should note her role in the John Mills starring Quatermass series, BBC TV Movie Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde and Tales Of The Unexpected. Since that early-mid 80s boom, Toyah has gone to appear as Miss Scarlett in the Cluedo TV Series, as Billie Piper’s mum in The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, and in children’s TV series The Ink Thief. Recently she appeared in the genre defying Aaaaaaaah! by director Steve Oram and alongside Gabriel Byrne and Harvey Keitel in Lies We Tell.

We are excited to welcome Toyah to Paracinema for an on-stage discussion of her screen career.

• Continue reading at Derby QUAD. Visit Toyah’s 2018 Gig Diary at toyahwillcox.com for all confirmed dates and appearances.

2018 is a big deal – This year Toyah celebrates the landmark event of turning 60, on 18th May. Not only that, this year is also the 40th anniversary of Toyah first making music.

Ten years ago I had a blast counting down to and celebrating Toyah’s fantastic 50th and hope to share some celebratory posts in the build up to Toyah’s 60th in just over two month’s time. Toyah’s official website and social media spaces are also celebrating #Toyah60 with special content and Toyah memories, career achievements and highlights.

• Dreamscape is now in its 19th year of sharing Toyah news so we have a comprehensive archive to look back on and simultaneously celebrate Toyah hitting 60! Have a browse at our many features looking at Toyah’s flabbergasting career and stay tuned for more memories…

On This Day 24.2.1982 the British Rock & Pop Awards (now The Brits) was broadcast on BBC One. Toyah received the award for Best Female Singer presented by Leo Sayer. These stunning shots (left) were taken earlier in the day when the ceremony was filmed. (Images © Official Toyah – See the anniversary British Rock & Pop Awards posts at Toyah’s Official Instagram)

• See Dreamscape’s British Rock & Pop Awards related posts here. Here’s a fantastic shot of Toyah and Joel performing I Want To Be Free at the awards show.

Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, we launch the first edition of Paracinema, a festival dedicated to films and genres outside of the mainstream. Expect a steady diet of horror, sci-fi and fantasy but also we’ll be exploring other genres outside the mainstream with special guests, previews and talks on a whole range of unusual genres and subgenres.

Confirmed Guests and Previews

Special Guest – Toyah Willcox. We are delighted to be welcoming actress and pop star Toyah Willcox to Paracinema and Derby Film Festival on Saturday 5th May to talk about her career appearing in classics like Derek Jarman’s Jubilee, The Tempest and the mod classic Quadrophenia as well as juggling a hugely successful pop career.

• Continue reading at Derby Quad. Visit the Derby Film Festival 2018 website here.

The year 2018 is one which includes several momentous milestones for Toyah. This includes her 60th birthday and the 40th anniversary of her music career as Toyah recorded her first studio demos with Joel Bogen in 1978. Stay tuned to Toyah’s official site, instagram, Twitter & Facebook for regular virtual slices of birthday cake!

Toyah Willcox and Islington Council commemorate Derek Jarman at his old flat in Liverpool Road

Much-loved artist, film director and LGBT activist Derek Jarman has been commemorated at his old flat in 60, Liverpool Road.

Mr Jarman, who died in 1994, was renowned for directing films such as Sebastiane (1976). He was also instrumental in the campaign to lower the age of consent for homosexuals, and esteemed for speaking so openly about being HIV-positive.

He lived at number 60 between 1967 and 1969 in a top floor studio. It was here where he worked on artwork and costumes for Sadler’s Wells Opera’s production of Don Giovanni in 1968.

Yesterday, Islington Council held a plaque ceremony commemorating his time there to coincide with the start of LGBT month. It was unveiled by actress and singer Toyah Willcox, a friend of Mr Jarman’s who worked with him on the film Jubilee (1978).

• Continue reading at the Islington Gazette.

Toyah unveils plaque to ‘Jubilee’ film director and LGBT activist Derek Jarman

A plaque has been unveiled marking the former residence of the artist, film director and activist Derek Jarman.

An outspoken campaigner for gay rights and HIV/Aids aware­ness, Jarman is renowned for directing films such as Sebastiane in 1976 and Jubilee in 1978, now adapted into a stage play.

Actress and singer Toyah Willcox, who made her screen debut in the original Jubilee film 40 years ago, was given the honours of unveiling the plaque yesterday (Thursday) at 60 Liverpool Road, where Jarman lived from 1967-69.

Toyah told the Tribune: “In the past 50 years gay politics has come along in leaps and bounds. It has developed into gender fluidity and trans fluidity which weren’t so defined or certainly weren’t public 40 years ago.

“All of us flourish in good, strong communities and one of the blessings of Derek’s life was he had a good community around him. But, it had to be a secret community because of the restrictions on being openly gay back then. What Jubilee addresses today is Derek’s collage of images, colours and ideas but the politics are brought up to date by young actors who are gender fluid and know what it’s like to live in a straight cis world.”

• Continue reading at the Islington Gazette.

Rolinda Sharples – Painted out of History (1996) Featuring Toyah Willcox. Director Lee Cox – 19 Feb 2018

Join PJ Crook, Toyah Willcox and Friends in Bristol for a unique celebration of the life and works of the artist Rolinda Sharples.

Rolinda Sharples (1793-1838) was born in Bath and lived most of her life in Bristol.  She exhibited at the Royal Academy and at the Society of British Artists, where she became an honorary member.  Her painting of The Cloak-Room at the Clifton Assembly Rooms, 1817 (see below) has become one of the most iconic images of the Regency period.

In 1998, Toyah Willcox (as Rolinda Sharples) and PJ Crook (as herself) made a short film for TV entitled Rolinda Sharples: Painted Out of History. For this special screening of the film, we will be joined by PJ and Toyah and also by the film’s director (Lee Cox) and screen-writer/animator (Hazel Gower), who will introduce it.

Ticket price includes entry to and an introduction to the current exhibition Women with Vision from RWA Director Alison Bevan.

• Further info/Book tickets at rwa.org.uk. **NB – Update – Toyah will NOT be at this event – See info here**

15.11.2017. In Conversation: Toyah Willcox with Dave Haslam at Royal Exchange.

The Royal Exchange is currently running a stage adaptation of Derek Jarman’s film, Jubilee (read our preview). And later this month, fans can spend an evening with Toyah Willcox, one of the stars of the play (and indeed the original film). She will be talking to the journalist and author Dave Haslam. They won’t be short of things to discuss, as Toyah has had a long, storied career not only as an actor, but also as a musician and writer. She first broke through in the late seventies as a punk pioneer. Around the same time, she starred in both Quadrophenia and another Jarman film, The Tempest. Over the years, she has appeared many more movies, TV shows AND released 24 albums. Recently, she wrote a book detailing her experiences with plastic surgery. Despite all this, she’s still best known to some as the narrator of Teletubbies.

• Continue reading at Manchester Wire.