Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts: Friday 27th September: 11pm
Celebrity fans and cast members come together to shed light on the making of Quadrophenia and explore the legacy that the cult film has left behind, 40 years after its release.

Quadrophenia Reunited – 40 Years On: Sky Arts: Saturday 28th September: 0.00am
Lauren Laverne hosts a one-off special bringing the stars of Quadrophenia together. Featuring reminiscing, interviews, a table-read of the script and plenty of other surprises.

Tonight sees Sky Arts celebrate the 40th Anniversary of, the mighty and forever enduring, Quadrophenia, with documentaries and an airing of the movie itself. There’s already been a ton of news and comment in the last few weeks and, indeed, over the past year about this significant anniversary. Here’s some more…

• What’s On TV: Happy 40th Quadrophenia! Phil Daniels on scooters, suits and the Sex Pistols…: Forty years ago this month, first-time director Franc Roddam – who would go on to create TV shows Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and MasterChef – presented his eagerly anticipated 1960s-set film Quadrophenia, about an angry young mod, to the world – Continue reading…

• BBC Radio Cornwall: David White Show: Francis Rossi, Mark King, Toyah Willcox, Leslie Ash (20/09/2019) Francis talks Quo, Mark chats Level 42 while Leslie and Toyah talk about Quadrophenia – Listen at BBC Sounds for the next four weeks…

• Radio Times: Quadrophenia Reunited: 40 Years On – Released in 1979 but set in 1964, Quadrophenia is a fascinating period piece within a period piece. And, thanks largely to the incredibly authentic performances of its young actors, it’s aged really well over the past 40 years. Members of that cast – including Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox and, of course, Phil Daniels – reassemble at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire tonight for a good-natured chinwag about the making of the film, including some readings from the script – Continue reading…

• Belfast Telegraph: Stars reunite to celebrate 40 years of Quadrophenia: To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of cult British film Quadrophenia, there’s a brand new documentary – Continue reading…

• Financial Times: Quadrophenia: Our Generation — Phil Daniels and Sting reflect – Continue reading (registration required)…

• ATV Today: One to Watch: Quadrophenia: Our Generation and Quadrophenia Reunited: 40 Years On, Sky Arts: At 9pm the celebration kicks off with Quadrophenia: Our Generation. Sky Arts celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1979 cult classic Quadrophenia with a series of special films – Continue reading…

• Pirate FM: Quadrophenia at 40: Stars reminisce about the film for ‘every generation’: Released in 1979 and loosely based on The Who’s album of the same name, Quadrophenia’s coming-of-age tale of a young mod is very much a cult classic – Continue reading…

• Sunday Post: Quadrophenia, 40 years on: Roy’s generation and his priceless scooter brought a bit extra to film: The year 1964 was a noisy one, especially if you were in the seaside towns of Brighton or Hastings caught up in fights that famously broke out between Mods and Rockers – Continue reading…

• Gigwise: Quadrophenia 40 Years On: The cast on Blur, Oasis and representation in music: In celebration of the Sky Arts documentary being released to mark its 40th anniversary, we speak to the cast to investigate the legacy and impact Quadrophenia holds – Continue reading…

• BT: Johnny Rotten ‘nearly brawled’ with Phil Daniels after Quadrophenia snub: Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten came close to brawling with Quadrophenia star Phil Daniels after the actor beat him to the role of Jimmy in the cult film. However, the role went to Daniels, who earned plaudits for his depiction of a scooter-riding mod in the 1960s escaping his humdrum life through a heady mix of parties, amphetamines and fights – Continue reading…

• Official Toyah: Qquadrophenia 40th Anniversary Evening: On 21 September, a special evening on Sky Arts celebrates the 40th anniversary of iconic Brit flick Quadrophenia. Several new programmes will be broadcast including the premiere of Quadrophenia Reunited – 40 Years On and Quadrophenia – Our Generation – Continue reading…

Mods, rockers and teenage dreams – The making of Quadrophenia

Forty years after Quadrophenia, the cast have reunited for a documentary

“I don’t think any of us have changed, we are still very much the same people, but obviously time has affected us, and to watch the documentaries and the work we have done in the last 12 months, I find it profoundly moving,” confides Toyah Willcox, 61, who plays Monkey.

Did they have a sense at the time that the relationships they formed on set would last four decades?

“We were all very passionate, and protective,” recalls the Birmingham born actress, who’s also a Brit Award-nominated musician, famous for songs such as I Want To Be Free.

She then explains her co-stars Wingett and Shail were like her “bodyguards” when they’d go and watch her gigs. “I was a punk rocker. I was the subject of quite a lot of physical aggression… Punks always got beaten up by teddy boys or whatever. Even as a woman on my own… a gang tried to throw me through a chemist window on King’s Road, when I was 20.

“It was quite interesting back then because fights did break out, but no-one pulled a knife on you, no-one pulled a gun on you. I think there was a pride back then in using your physical strength, using your fists or being able to run quick enough to get away.”

• Browse our Quadrophenia 40th Anniversary archive.

Phil Daniels, Toyah Willcox, Trevor Laird and Mark Wingett talk Quadrophenia 40 years on!

Watch the Sky Arts Quadrophenia Night launch trailer…

Quadrophenia at 40: Stars reminisce about the film for ‘every generation’

Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox and other stars of Quadrophenia speak to Sky News about the film’s 40th anniversary.

Released in 1979 and loosely based on The Who’s album of the same name, Quadrophenia’s coming-of-age tale of a young mod is very much a cult classic. Forty years on, a new documentary for Sky Arts, Quadrophenia – Our Generation, explores the style of filmmaking and the movie’s themes.

But for the cast, who reunited at a screening for the documentary, the film’s wider impact could never have been predicted.

… Toyah Willcox, who played Monkey in the film, says it was emotional to look back at when it was being made. “You’re just thinking, ‘my God, it was so special’,” she says. “It was such an opportunity and a privilege because we were treated as serious actors at a time when we could have been treated very differently. “So watching the documentary, I just thought, ‘wow, I’m just so pleased that was in my life’.”

• Continue reading at Sky News. (Photo © Sky Arts)

Quadrophenia‘s big anniversary weekend on Sky Arts is fast approaching. Here are a couple of very recent Quad related photos – At London Film Fair on Sunday, and a great shot of four of the legendary cast! Thanks to Paul. (Photos © Toyah Willcox and Gary Shail)

Toyah Willcox didn’t realise feminist aspect of Quadrophenia but now calls movie ‘liberating’

Toyah Willcox didn’t realise the feminist aspect of Quadrophenia while filming the cult classic. The 61-year-old played Monkey in the 1979 hit – a party animal who was in control of her sex life as well as being a constant supplier of drugs to her friends.

When chatting to Metro.co.uk, the star reflected on the character and how liberating it was to play her. She told us: ‘At the time I wasn’t aware of the feminist aspects of it. It was quite a schizophrenic time. I got signed to a record label was working on another movie, then working on Quadrophenia.’ She laughed: ‘Everything was going absolutely ballistic.’

• Continue reading at the Metro.

Quadrophenia: Our Generation – Sky Arts
Airs at 9:00pm on Saturday 21 September 2019

Quadrophenia: Our Generation sees Phil Daniels, Sting, Toyah Willcox, Leslie Ash and the rest of the cast look back at a definitive British film of 40 years ago.

A weekend of programming to mark the 40th anniversary of cult movie Quadrophenia includes Quadrophenia: Our Generation, an excellent documentary in which first-time director Franc Roddam and cast members Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox and Ray Winstone share memories of making the film.

There are some great anecdotes – including a phone call to Malcolm McLaren about the possibility of the Sex Pistols’ John Lydon starring as Jimmy (the scooter-riding Mod eventually played by Phil Daniels), and The Who’s late drummer Keith Moon asking to co-direct – plus an interesting history of the Mod movement.

• Continue reading at What’s on TV.

Quadrophenia cast threatened strike as Trevor Laird ‘couldn’t be seen with white girl’

The cast of Quadrophenia are currently celebrating the cult film’s 40th anniversary. But while the classic was progressive for its time, it turns out the movie could have been a whole lot more radical. Opening up on what went down behind the scenes, Trevor Laird, who played Ferdy, recalled the moment he was told he couldn’t be seen with a white girl.

Yes, that actually happened.

… Toyah Willcox who was sat next to Trev and played Monkey in the 1979 movie, chirped up: “I don’t know if you know, but we talked about going on strike because of that. All these walls were being knocked down, and here we were having to keep to a really bad tradition.”

• Continue reading at the Metro.

Quadrophenia cast speak of ‘no star treatment’ received on set 40 years ago

They endured freezing weather while shooting on location in Brighton and didn’t even get dressing rooms

There was no star treatment for the cast of classic Mod movie Quadrophenia 40 years ago. They endured freezing weather while shooting on location in Brighton and didn’t even get dressing rooms.

Ahead of the anniversary, Leslie Ash, 59, said of filming: “There were no Winnebagos or anything fancy like that. We had to huddle together to keep warm. We’d sit in people’s cars or in shop doorways between scenes. No-one could say, ‘I’m going off to my trailer’. I think that’s why we all got on so well.”

Toyah Willcox, 61, added: “We were wet the whole time. It was freezing. Half the time we were stood on street corners.”

The cast didn’t even get a hefty pay packet despite the film’s big budget. Director Franc Roddam, 73, said: “I wasn’t being paid very much and nor were the cast.” Phil Davis, 66, added: “It wasn’t about the money. There was such a buzz about this film.”

• Continue reading at the Daily Star.

The full schedule for Sky Arts’ special evening of celebration for the 40th Anniversary of Quadrophenia has just been made available – *Updated* with further air dates and times!

Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts:
Saturday 21st September: 9pm
Monday 23rd September: 1.45am
Wednesday 25th September: 10.30pm
Celebrity fans and cast members come together to shed light on the making of Quadrophenia and explore the legacy that the cult film has left behind, 40 years after its release.

Quadrophenia Reunited – 40 Years On: Sky Arts:
Saturday 21st September: 10pm
Monday 23rd September: 0.15am
Wednesday 25th September: 9pm
Lauren Laverne hosts a one-off special bringing the stars of Quadrophenia together. Featuring reminiscing, interviews, a table-read of the script and plenty of other surprises.

Quadrophenia: Sky Arts: Saturday 21st September: 11.30pm
Quadrophenia: Sky Arts: Sunday 22nd September: 10pm
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.

Toyah will appear at the London Film Fair on Sunday 15th September 2019, alongside many of the actors from Quadrophenia.

The Film Fair will be held at the Congress Centre (Great Russell Street, WC1B 3UB)

The London Film Fair will appeal to avid film buffs, collectors, archivists researchers and students. A must for anyone with an interest in cinema and cult television!

• Further info at the London Film Fair website. (Thanks to Graham Bashford) – See our previous news on this here.

Quadrophenia Our Generation: Sky Arts: Saturday 21st September: Time TBC
A new documentary, marking the 40th anniversary of Quadrophenia. Includes a recording of the live read through with the cast in which Toyah participated.

Quadrophenia cast spill BTS antics as they reunite to celebrate 40 years of cult film

The cast of Quadrophenia have reunited to celebrate 40 years since the cult movie was released. And what an evening it was.

Returning to Shepherds Bush, where the much-loved classic was filmed, the likes of Leslie Ash (Steph), Garry Cooper (Peter), Phil Daniels (Jimmy) and Toyah Willcox (Monkey) joined Lauren Laverne to talk all things mod. Phil Davis (Chalky), Trevor Laird (Ferdy), Gary Shail (Spider) and Mark Winget (Dave) were also in attendance to discuss the key themes of the plot, as well as spilling a number of backstage antics.

• Continue reading at the Metro. (Photo © Metro/Joe Newman/PinPep)

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of one of Britain’s greatest cult movies, Sky Arts presents one-off night brings the stars of Quadrophenia together on stage for a unique table read. Hosted by Lauren Laverne it will also feature a series of interviews with the cast, some special surprises and an audience Q&A.

Sunday 14 July 2019 | Shepherd’s Bush O2 Empire

The event will be filmed for a special TV broadcast. Click below to book tickets.

Gary Shail Brings You Quadrophenia 40th Birthday Party

We are delighted to announce that our latest confirmed guest for Quad 40 is the fantastic Toyah Willcox who played the part of Monkey. Toyah joins Gary Shail, Trevor Laird, Leslie Ash and Carol Harrison (so far!) confirmed names – with more to follow!

2019 is the 40th anniversary of the movie Quadrophenia. The 25th August heralds the biggest single collection of cast and crew to celebrate this seminal movie. Gary Shail ( Spider) is proud to present the ultimate “Quadrophenia Experience” at Brighton’s Palace Pier.

• Further info/Book tickets at the Quad 40 website. (Thanks to Layne Patterson)

Full details of the VIP Passes for Quadrophenia at 40 – taking place at Cov Con (Coventry Comic Con) in September – have been made available.

We are really excited to be able to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the 1979 release of Quadrophenia!

Join us and meet cast members from the film. Grab an autograph or take part in our amazing Quadrophenia cast group photoshoot. There is also a free Q&A session with the Quad guests which is not to be missed!

Entry costs just £10 to get into the show and you can then choose if you want to purchase autographs, photoshoots, selfies etc.

We also sell optional VIP passes which give you extra discount on buying stuff individually. The following VIP passes will be available to purchase on Saturday 30th March from 10am on our website:

Hell on Wheels – Save at least £20 on the full set of Quadrophenia guest autographs and receive a limited edition show lanyard with VIP pass. You can either bring your own item to be signed or use one of our cast group 10″ x 8″ photos for signing. Event entry is not included in the pass. Price is £70 and only 50 will be available.

Bell Boy – As Hell on Wheels but in addition you also get the meet/greet group photoshoot with the Quadrophenia guests. The photoshoot will include the Ace Face replica scooter that you can sit on with the guests around you for an amazing picture! Event entry is not included in the pass. Price is £160 and only 20 will be available.

We Are The Mods – In addition to Hell on Wheels you also get selfies with all our Quadrophenia guests, early entry into the event from 9am and a queue jump pass which will get you to the front of any guest queue (including non Quad guests). Early event entry is included in this pass. Price £250 and only 10 available.

A Way of Life – All the benefits of the We Are The Mods pass but you also get a meet/greet photo shoot with all individual Quad guests and reserved front row seating for the Quad Q&A. Early event entry is included in this pass. Price is £400 and only 5 are available.

The Real Me – Our ultimate VIP pass! Get all the benefits of our Way of Life pass and you also get a limited edition 14″ x 12″ print signed by all our Quad guests, a personal birthday/Christmas card from Toyah, green room access with food and drink available throughout the day, a hotel room on Friday 27th in the same hotel as our guests, safe luggage space at the venue, a personal assistant to help you meet guests and plan your day and private transport laid on from/to railway station, hotel and venue. Early event entry is included in this pass. Price is £800 and only 3 are available.

• Continue reading for further details of the VIP Passes at coventrycomiccom.com.

Square Chapel Arts Centre last night tweeted: “We love Toyah. What an inspirational person” following their 40th Anniversary screening of Quadrophenia, Toyah’s post-film Q&A session and an Acoustic, Up Close & Personal performance at the Halifax venue. See more tweets and photos from yesterday’s events by clicking below. (Photos © Square Chapel Arts Centre)

Toyah in Halifax to mark Quadrophenia’s 40th anniversary

Stage, screen and music star Toyah Willcox will be in Halifax on Saturday (February 16) for an exclusive 40th anniversary screening of the mod classic Quadrophenia. Toyah, who plays Monkey in the film version of The Who’s rock opera, will also take part in a Q&A at Square Chapel arts centre, talk about the movie and her career in music – and perform a live acoustic gig with her band.

The cult classic film also starred Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Ray Winstone at the start of their careers with the action set in Brighton during clashes between rival gangs of Mods and Rockers. The film will be shown at 6pm, followed by the live Q&A hosted by radio presenter Alex Cann. Following that will be Toyah’s live set at 9pm. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of her music career as she released her first single and album in 1979.

This acoustic concert will include hit singles, album classics and fan favourites.The Q&A has sold out but there are still a handful of tickets left for Toyah’s live set. Go to www.squarechapel.co.uk for more information and booking.

• Continue reading at the Halifax Courier.

Quadrophenia is being screened at the University of West London on Friday, by Ealing Classic Cinema Club, as part of Ealing Music & Film Festival 2019.

The Festival will take place from 13th–17th February 2019 with both free and paid for events happening across Ealing at venues including the University of West London, St Barnabas Church, The Brentham Club, St Mary’s Church and The Met Film School.

On the evening of 15 February, 7pm at Weston Hall, University of West London, we are delighted to announce a screening in association with Ealing Classic Cinema Club of the iconic 1979 film Quadrophenia from Pete Townshend and Franc Roddam starring Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Toyah Willcox, with music by The Who.

• See further info at Ealing Music & Film Festival 2019.