Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Billy Ocean, Kim Wilde and Bryn Terfel to play Upton House Festival 2017

A host of star names will light up a festival in Dorset next summer. Upton House Music Festival in Poole, is back on Thursday June 8 to Saturday June 10 2017 with a host of star names. Details of the first two sensational nights have now been revealed – with the identity of Saturday’s headliner being kept strictly under wraps for the time being.

The three-night festival is held at the idyllic Upton House and Country Park in Poole, Dorset with a Classical Spectacular followed by an 80s Extravaganza and a final night starring a top international artist.

Friday June 9 is 80s Extravaganza party night starring incomparable R’n’B superstar Billy Ocean, hugely successful singer Kim Wilde and punk princess Toyah.

• Continue reading at the Dorset Echo. Read another article on this at the Daily Echo.

Quadrophenia star and singer Toyah Willcox awarded a star on Broad Street

The Kings Heath born singer and actress was awarded a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars in Broad Street.

Singer and actress Toyah Willcox was last night Sunday December 11, awarded a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars in Broad Street. The 58 year old was awarded the star along with Brum born comedian Don Maclean who appeared in BBC television series Crackerjack with Michael Aspel, Peter Glaze and Jan Hunt in the 1970s.

The pair were awarded their stars during a special show hosted by Walk of Stars’ chairman Jasper Carrott at the Birmingham Rep Theatre. Toyah who was born in Kings Heath, shot to fame playing Monkey in the 1979 cult classic Quadrophenia. She also had a successful music career spanning 30 years including hits “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free” as well as 20 top selling albums. Toyah studied at Old Rep Drama School in Birmingham.

Looking back at her time there she said: “Already by then I was known in Birmingham for being the oddball that walked around with dyed hair. And you’ve got to remember that this is pre-punk, this was about 1973–74” At the event Toyah said “ I’m so proud and so excited. All my friends,family and fans are here. I feel Birmingham has done me proud today. I’m very grateful thank you.”

• Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail. View a great collection of photos from the Birmingham Walk of Stars event at Flickr. (Photo © Birmingham Mail)

Toyah Willcox and Don Maclean take their place on Birmingham Walk of Stars, hosted by Jaspar Carrott

Two of Birmingham’s theatrical stars will light up the city with a special presentation on Sunday. Fans can join host Jasper Carrott as Toyah Willcox and Don Maclean take their place on the Birmingham Walk Of Stars

Birmingham Council leader, Councillor John Clancy, will present Walk of Stars Awards to singer and actress Toyah and comedian and actor Maclean. Both artists will also perform at the show.

• Continue reading at the Express and Star.

Toyah Willcox stars in new film about an aspiring stand-up

Toyah Willcox is to appear in a new film about an aspiring comedian, written by playwright John Godber.

Filming has wrapped on dark comedy The Last Laugh, in which Nick Figgis portrays Martin, a theatre lecturer and would-be screenwriter who finds catharsis in performing stand-up when his wife discovers his affair and takes his family away.

Willcox (pictured above with Godber) is Pam, Martin’s ‘Judi Dench-like’ mother-in-law, a hugely successful actor of stage and screen – including sitcom – whom he yearns to impress.

Bouncers writer Godber makes his acting debut as Martin’s father, with his real-life wife Jane playing his onscreen spouse. Based on the writer’s 1997 play Weekend Breaks, the film cuts between Martin struggling to reconnect with his working-class parents in an isolated farmhouse in Whitby and him recounting the experience on stage.

• Continue reading at Chortle. Check out all of Dreamscape’s The Last Laugh news.

• BBC Media Centre: Pop Quiz returns packed full of 80s stars: It’s time to dig out your leg warmers, ra-ra skirts and grab your Walkmans as BBC Four revives the classic 80s programme, Pop Quiz: The Comeback, for two specials in celebration of 80s pop music – Continue reading…

• ATV Today: Pop Quiz returns to the BBC: 1980s music based game show Pop Quiz is being revived by the BBC once more. The series has previously seen short-lived revivals in the 1990s and 2000s – Continue reading…

BBC Four is set to revive the classic TV show Pop Quiz for two Christmas specials in celebration of ’80s pop music.

Original presenter Mike Read is set to host alongside teams of competing ’80s pop stars.

Guests will include Toyah Willcox, Nick Heyward (Haircut 100), Carol Decker (T’Pau), Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), David Grant (Linx), Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz), Ranking Roger (The Beat), Mari Wilson and Lee John (Imagination).

“I’m delighted to be working with a great BBC team to bring back the classic TV series Pop Quiz,” said Read. “Once again the brows of the famous will be furrowed, lips pursed and eyes narrowed as we test their music knowledge, watch some great classic footage and have some fun along the way.”

• Continue reading at Music Week.

Heather Phillipson has won the coveted annual Film London Jarman Award, announced at a special event at London’s Whitechapel Gallery. She receives £10,000 prize money, as well as a commission for Channel 4’s Random Acts strand.

The Award was presented by charismatic and outspoken performer Toyah Willcox, who began her film career in 1977 when film director Derek Jarman offered her the role of ‘Mad’ in his seminal punk epic Jubilee.

Heather Phillipson was chosen from a distinguished shortlist of artists featuring Sophia Al Maria, Cécile B. Evans, Shona Illingworth, Mikhail Karikis and Rachel Maclean. All six artists will receive a film commission for Channel 4’s short-form arts strand Random Acts.

• Continue reading at Film London. More photos at Film London Twitter. (Photo © Film London)

‘I hardly see him!’ Toyah Willcox reveals the secret to her thirty year marriage is separate houses… but insists she and her husband are still ‘very naughty in the bedroom’

She’s been happily married for three decades.

And Toyah Willcox has a pretty unorthodox way of keeping the spark alive, admitting on Thursday’s Loose Women that she and her husband have separate houses.

The 58-year-old, who wed Robert Fripp back in 1986, commented: ‘The secret is – please don’t quote me – I hardly see him!’

Speaking to the Loose Women, Toyah revealed that she and Robert have two houses, so although they spend much of their time together, there is somewhere to escape to.

• Continue reading at the Daily Mail.

Take on the purple trend in a midi dress like Toyah

Nineties rocker, Toyah Willcox, looked a far cry from her former punk self earlier today when she made an appearance on Loose Women wearing a demure midi dress!

Wearing a jersey wrap dress by Pure (click right to buy it now), Toyah accessorised her look with a statement coin necklace and a chunky arm cuff. With its wrap-around style, thigh-slit, side-ruching and jersey fabric, Toyah’s dress is perfect balance of classy and comfy! Make like Toyah and utilise the plunging neckline by stacking up with statement jewels.

• Continue reading at the Daily Mail. (Photo © ITV.com)

Don Maclean and Toyah Willcox to be honoured on Broad Street’s Walk of Stars

Panto dame and punk princess are to be given Broad Street stars at same ceremony

Punk princess Toyah Willcox and panto dame Don Maclean are the latest celebrities to be given a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars in Broad Street.

The pair will be awarded their stars during a special show hosted by Walk of Stars’ chairman Jasper Carrott at the Birmingham Rep from 2.30pm on Sunday, December 11. As well as performing at the show, Toyah and Don will receive their stars from Birmingham City Council leader Coun John Clancy.

More than 30 celebrities and achievers have been recognised with a star on Broad Street since Ozzy Osbourne received the first one on July 6, 2007.

• Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail.

Eighties icon Toyah Willcox is shooting a new film in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Written by Hull director John Godber, the singer plays the role of Pam Allen in the film about a Hull University theatre lecturer, played by Nick Figgis, who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian.

The film, called Last Laugh , is scheduled to be released in April, and there is a possibility of a premiere in Hull as part of the City of Culture 2017 schedule.

• Continue reading at Hey Today.

Toyah Willcox starring in John Godber’s Last Laugh filmed in Hull with Nick Figgis

Famous 1980s singer Toyah Willcox is filming in Hull and East Yorkshire as part of the cast for a new film written by John Godber.

Willcox is playing the role of Pam Allen, in the film about a Hull University theatre lecturer, played by Nick Figgis with dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian.

The film, directed by Daniel Coll, and written by acclaimed Hull playwright and director John Godber, has been filmed in locations across the city over the past few weeks.

She tweeted about how much “fun” she was having during filming, saying; “Shooting Last Laugh in Hull with John Godber and Nick Figgis. Lots of fun xxx.”

• Continue reading at the Hull Daily Mail.

Acoustic shows such fun says Toyah as she heads to Colne Muni

Considering she has been touring constantly for almost 40 years, you might think that Toyah Willcox would have had her fill of live dates.

But, as she prepares to bring her acoustic show to Colne Muni at the weekend, the singer admits that these intimate performances are something she particularly looks forward to.

“We absolutely adore doing the acoustic shows,” she said. “Harmonically it’s just so nice not to have the drums banging away in the background and the songs kind of have a life of their own.

“It’s also great fun to tell the stories and it’s good to find something new people haven’t heard before.”

• Continue reading at the Lancashire Telegraph.

With the 80s Invasion tour coming up next year, Toyah will be performing along with other luminaries including Paul Young, Martika and China Crisis in a UK wide tour. At the moment Toyah is playing a solo tour all around the UK and she was gracious enough to spare us some time to talk about what type of holidays she prefers.

The singer’s earliest memories of breaks are spending time on the family boat moored on the river Avon and also at their caravan that was based close to the boat. This meant that from an early age Toyah was accustomed to packing – a task that she has had to carry out throughout her working life.

Cities are important places to Toyah, “I have written four albums in Seattle. I absolutely love that city – it’s a very green forest orientated city and its quite a harmonised hub of high rises but they kind of peter out into wooden shacks quite quickly and there is water everywhere.”

• Continue reading at Holiday Hypermarket.

Once known as the High Priestess of Punk, actor and singer Toyah Willcox will be in Oxted, at the Bluehouse Festival in the town’s URC Church, on October 21 to talk about the music industry.

The Bluehouse Festival will run from October 16-30 and the organisers are putting together a mix of entertaining events and thought-provoking authors and speakers throughout the event.

• Continue reading at the Edenbridge Chronicle.

‘Of current artists, I love FKA Twigs. She blows me away’: Punk queen Toyah Willcox reveals her cultural favourites

Which former punk queen’s taste ranges from Bilbo Baggins to Bill and Ben, from Henry V to Half A Sixpence? It’s a mystery no more…

My movie magic

Growing up in Birmingham, my mum would take my sister, brother and me to see musicals like The Sound Of Music, Half A Sixpence, or My Fair Lady at the big theatres. They were very formative cinematic experiences.

A film I can watch over and over again is the 2007 Sean Penn-directed movie, Into The Wild. I am passionate about hill-walking, and going off into nature on my own.

• Continue reading at the Daily Mail/Event.

Legendary rocker Steve Harley headlined Secret World’s first ever music festival.

Steve and his band Cockney Rebel, were joined by inspirational punk rocker Toyah Willcox and a host of Somerset bands for the inaugural Music in the Meadow one day festival.

Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill, near Highbridge was packed on Saturday, September 10 for a day of fantastic live music and activities. Visitors have been flocking to events at Secret World for many years, but it’s usually for a chance to get close to wildlife.

All the money raised from Music in the Meadow will go towards Secret World’s work to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wildlife.

• Continue reading at the Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. (Photo © Weekly News)

Hard to believe, I know, but my hair was once orange. Bright orange. It wasn’t meant to be. It was supposed to be blonde, but the dying process failed miserably, hence the Tangoed mullet. It was July 1982. I was 18 and stupidly excited as I had front row tickets to see Toyah a couple of days later at the Playhouse. The ‘hair-don’t’ proved serendipitous; when Toyah bounced on stage we appeared to have shared the same bottle of dye.

That was my introduction to the force of nature that is Toyah Willcox.

…Towards the end of that Playhouse gig, the front two rows ended sitting cross-legged up on stage as the elfin star danced around us belting out the classic Ieya.. actually, it might have been Danced … or maybe even Race Through Space, my favourite.

• Continue reading at the Edinburgh Evening News.

Following her success in last year’s outdoor concert in a town park, Eighties pop punk princess Toyah is returning to Aylesbury but this time she will be indoors, at the Waterside Theatre as part of the 80’s Invasion Tour.

Joining her on stage will be fellow 80s stars, Luton’s Paul Young, Liverpool’s China Crisis and from America, Martika.

Toyah wowed the crowds during her outdoor gig, and sang with as much energy and passion as in her heyday, so she’s sure to be a hit on the Waterside stage.

• Continue reading at The Bucks Herald.

Looking for something fun to do in London this week? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered – from pop-ups to sherry evenings, here’s how to spend your week in the capital:

Thursday: 7. For a Free Production: Open Air Theatre
Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, with songs by the legendary Toyah Willcox and her song-writing partner, Simon Darlow. London’s Free Open-Air Theatre Season offers 40,000 free tickets for great theatre within the heart of London. Running since 2003, this is still London’s only ‘free to all’ annual festival of theatre.

• Continue reading at About Time Magazine.

WISE WORDS: Toyah Willcox Shares Her Idea Of Perfect Happiness

Toyah is joining Paul Young, Martika and China Crisis on tour in 2017.

For the latest in our WISE WORDS interview series – where stars from a whole range of fields share the important life lessons they’ve learned along the way – we’re posing some of the big questions to TOYAH WILLCOX.

Next year finds her joining the roll call for the 80s Invasion Tour. As she prepares once again to take to the road, she talks to HuffPostUK about some of the harder lessons she’s learned along the way, and what brings her greatest happiness…

What do you do to switch off from the world?
I love walking and I love being in big, wide-open spaces like hill tops or relatively easy to climb mountains. I just get everything I need from silence and being outdoors. It allows me to think and clear my mind. I like being very active and I can walk up to around eight miles a day every day.

How do you deal with negativity?
I don’t! I don’t deal with negativity at all! I think we’re naturally more tuned to hearing negativity than positivity and I find that aspect endlessly fascinating, that I can pick up two pages of glittering reviews and just one bad sentence is what you’ll remember. I think that says a lot about the human psyche, so the way I try and deal with it is I remind myself that most negativity has been expressed in passing and it isn’t held permanently. Someone that is negative is flippant and has just released a sentence and moved on to something completely different. I just don’t allow it to have a solid existence, I don’t allow it tangibility.

• Continue reading at The Huffington Post.

Make the most of your figure: Pink cap-sleeve midi dress and purple court shoes, £195, from LK Bennett – This beautifully made dress holds you in all the right places. It oozes sex appeal without being too revealing. Cocktails anyone?

Don’t flaunt your cleavage: Bell sleeve dress from Zara; suede court shoes, £195, from LK Bennett – I love the design— it’s both Swinging Sixties and New Millennium. I would wear it to a posh lunch with a chunky necklace of bright yellow citrine.

Never go too short: Dress, from Précis; pearl button cardigan, £19.99, from Zara; courts, £165, from Russell and Bromley – This is my least favourite. It’s so formal I feel like a headmistress in it.

Be glamourous 24 hours a day: Graphic print dress, from Biba at House of Fraser, gold sandals, £275, from Russell and Bromley – I firmly believe we can be glamorous 24/7, and this dress proves it. It’s chic, comfy and not too showy for any occasion from the school run to the opera. Just gorgeous.

Show off your waist: Paisley print blouse, £29.99, burgundy pencil skirt, £29.99, both from Zara. Green suede courts, £75, from Dune – As a working woman I could only wear this if I were playing princess for the day. The shoes are gorgeous — but just too high to be practical.

• Read the full feature at the Daily Mail. (Photos/Text © Daily Mail). View the print version of this feature, published yesterday, here.