Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Canterbury’s Christmas lights will be switched on in St George’s Street on Thursday, November 15 at 5.30pm.

Herne Bay’s switch-on will be on Friday, November 16, in Mortimer Street, starting at 4pm with the lights going on at 5pm.

Whitstable’s event is on Saturday, November 17, starting with a parade from the harbour to the library at 4.45pm, followed by the switch-on at 6pm. Stars from the Marlowe Theatre pantomime Sleeping Beauty will be flicking the switch at all three events.

• Continue reading at Whitstable People.

Following on from last Wednesday’s post about the Sleeping Beauty cast switching on the Christmas Lights in three different towns, it now looks like there is a fourth!

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas in Whitefriars is always a magical experience and this year is no exception. The Marlowe Theatre panto stars will officially launch Christmas in the city on Thursday 15 November. The popular lights switch-on event in St George’s Street will also feature a mix of games, community activities and music performances.

Smash Hit Panto: Following the success of last year’s smash hit Marlowe Theatre pantomime, you’re guaranteed another fabulous festive treat this Christmas with Sleeping Beauty. Topping the bill are singing sensation Gareth Gates and pop legend Toyah Willcox.

• Continue reading at Whitefriars Canterbury.

Pop star Gareth Gates and former punk singer Toyah Willcox headline the Marlowe Theatre’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty.

Gareth will play Prince Charming to leading lady Faye Brooks who played Elle in the UK tour of Legally Blonde, while Toyah takes up the role of the Wicked Fairy. They will be joined by Katrina Bryan, Nina in CBeebies children’s series Nina and the Neurons, and Margate-born comedian Lloyd Hollett who has supported Jim Davidson on his UK tour.

• Continue reading at This is Kent.

It looks like Toyah and the Sleeping Beauty cast will be lighting up a lot of lives this Christmas, with not one, not two, but three Christmas Lights switch ons. In Herne Bay (16 Nov/5pm),  and Deal (22 Nov/7.30pm) and Dover (24 Nov/5.30pm).

Dover Locals: Christmas starts in Dover the 24th November this year as the Town Council are hosting the annual Christmas Switch-on event: The light switch on will take place at 5.30pm in the Market Square with the Mayor of Dover being supported by the cast of the Marlowe Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty who include amongst others; Gareth Gates, Toyah Willcox and star of the west end, Faye Brookes.

Visit Canterbury: Christmas Lights Switch On at Herne Bay (Fri 16th Nov): Christmas Lights switch on with live music and the stars from the Marlowe Panto Sleeping Beauty. The event starts at 4pm, Christmas light switch on at 5pm.

Herne Bay TP: Panto Stars to Switch On the Herne Bay Lights: The stars for the Marlowe Panto, Sleeping Beauty, including Gareth Gates and Toyah will be switching on Herne Bay Christmas Lights,on Friday 16 November 2012.

• Browse all of our Sleeping Beauty at The Marlowe Theatre 2012 news.

• The third series of Pointless Celebrities began airing last night on BBC1. There will be nine episodes in the series and Toyah will guest on one of them, having recorded her appearance in early February with Cheryl Baker.

• Kent News: The Marlowe’s Sleeping Beauty panto to be dedicated to late comic Dave Lee: He may no longer be with us, but much-loved comic Dave Lee will be playing as big a part as ever in this year’s Marlowe Theatre pantomime. In fact, the whole production of Sleeping Beauty, which stars Pop Idol singer Gareth Gates and eighties legend Toyah Willcox, will be dedicated to Dave, who died of pancreatic cancer in January aged 64.

• Friends Reunited: Toyah Willcox, 1985: A portrait of actress and singer Toyah Willcox.

• Nigel James Digital: Toyah Willcox plays Sheffield Corporation club: 80′s diva performs to a packed room!

• Turner Classic Movies: The Tempest – Derek Jarman’s Acclaimed 1979 Adaptation of the William Shakespeare Play.

A new trailer for Toyah’s Christmas 2012 panto, Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, has recently been uploaded to You Tube… Oh yes it has! (Thanks to Paul Lomas)

The Marlowe Theatre certainly know how to promote their panto. This was spotted in Canterbury today. View more info on Sleeping Beauty here. (Thanks to Brian Marsh)

There’s a new photo of the Sleeping Beauty cast in the Autumn 2012 Marlowe Theatre brochure, plus full details of the 2012 panto. This is one of Toyah’s lengthiest, running for eight weeks and a, staggering, 90 performances, between 30th November and 20th January, including a handful of three shows in one day. Download it from the theatre’s website.

Evolution Pantomimes have updated their website with details and images for all of their 2012/13 festive season productions, including Toyah’s Sleeping Beauty.

Sleeping Beauty at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

Cast: Gareth Gates, Toyah Willcox, Katrina Bryan, Ben Roddy, Lloyd Hollett, Faye Brooks, Ieuan Rhys. Director: Paul Hendy; MD: Chris Wong; Choreographer: Paul Tracy.

• A print of a painting of ‘Ieya/The Blue Meaning’ Toyah, by artist Julie L Harwood, is currently up for auction at eBay.

• View a nice selection of photos from this week’s Sleeping Beauty panto launch in Canterbury over at Tim Stubbings Photography.

• Another press article on the panto at This is Kent.

• The Guardian: Your next box set: Shoestring: A new review of a box set that’s been available for almost a year? Toyah/Toola receives a namecheck. (Thanks to Stephen Bennett Troake)

• The Tempest on Blu-ray: More info on the forthcoming release at Kino. Still no artwork though!

• Psychics Network: Toyah’s full appearance on Bio’s Our Psychic Family, which originally aired in December 2008. View screen caps from this here.

More photos from yesterday’s Sleeping Beauty press launch/photo call. These were all tweeted by the Marlowe Theatre, the venue where Toyah’s panto for 2012 will play. An advert/etrailer was also filmed to promote the panto. There’s a new video interview with Gareth Gates at Kent Online. This includes footage of Toyah. (Photos © Marlowe Theatre)

Pop Idol and punk princess look to build on success

The stars were out in force ahead of the new Marlowe Theatre pantomime for 2012, Sleeping Beauty.

Pop Idol star Gareth Gates and punk legend Toyah Willcox head the cast which also includes Katrina Bryan, better known as Nina from the CBeebies series Nina and the Neurons.

A stint on Dancing on Ice in 2008 prompted Gareth to change musical direction and he went on to take the lead role in Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. He has since appeared in Les Miserables, both on the 25th anniversary tour and in the West End. Former punk princess Toyah appeared in six productions at the old Marlowe and is delighted to be returning to the new venue, where she will play the Wicked Fairy

Sleeping Beauty is at The Marlowe Theatre from 30 November to 20 January 2013. To book tickets, call the Box Office on 01227 787787 or go to marlowetheatre.com

• Continue reading at Kent News. (Photos © Kent News)

Gareth Gates made a promise to the county as he led the cast of Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre pantomime launch.   The singer and actor, who has sold more than 3.5 million records in the UK, will play a cheeky Prince who is “more Prince Harry than Prince William” when the show gets underway. Gareth, 27, was joined outside the theatre in Canterbury on Monday, June 25, by punk princess and actress Toyah Willcox and CBeebies’ Katrina Bryan from Nina and the Neurons.

Toyah Willcox, who has a home in Canterbury, has only had one Christmas off from panto since her first one in 1993. This will be her seventh Marlowe Theatre pantomime. She said: “It’s a great Christmas tradition which you get nowhere else in the world. It is a time for the family to be together. I love it. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t do panto.”

• Continue reading at Kent Online. (Photo © Kent Online)

Today was the press launch/photo call for Toyah’s 2012 panto Sleeping Beauty. Gareth Gates and Toyah were in Canterbury for numerous photos and interviews. Toyah also tweeted a photo. Click on the image below to view a larger version. (Thanks to Mark Whitney)

The ‘British Theatre Guide’ website include details on Sleeping Beauty in their latest “panto news” update. No new info but they do use a, previously unpublished, full-length photo of the main cast.

Evolution Productions have also announced full casting for their version of Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury which will feature Toyah Willcox as Carabosse, Gareth Gates as the Prince, Ben Roddy as the Dame, Lloyd Hollett as the Storyteller, Katrina Bryan as the Fairy and Faye Brookes as Sleeping Beauty herself.

• Visit ‘The British Theatre Guide’ website here.

(The full photo is also being used in the, just published, Marlowe Theatre Summer brochure)

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).

• Continue reading at Canterbury People.

The Marlowe Theatre and Evolution Pantomimes present Sleeping Beauty. Starring Gareth Gates & Toyah Willcox

Make your dreams come true this Christmas, with everyone’s favourite fairytale

Following the incredible success of last year’s smash hit Cinderella, you’re guaranteed a feel-fantastic festive treat with a whole host of stars including singing sensation Gareth Gates, pop legend Toyah Willcox, Katrina Bryan (CBeebies Nina And The Neurons) and The Marlowe’s favourite funnyman Ben Roddy.

You’ll be swept off your feet by our lavish sets, beautiful costumes, brilliant musical numbers, amazing illusions and, of course, hilarious comedy. There’s even a fire-breathing dragon!

Written and directed by Paul Hendy and brought to you by Evolution, the same creative team behind Cinderella, this promises to be our most magical pantomime yet.

• Sleeping Beauty is Toyah’s longest running panto for many years, playing for almost eight weeks between Friday 30th November 2012 and Sunday 20th January 2013. Visit the Marlowe Theatre website and Facebook for more info and to stay updated.

The first promo photo for Sleeping Beauty 2012. Click to visit the Marlowe Theatre’s website.

It’s only April but the Marlowe Theatre’s 2012 panto, and cast, has just been announced:

Gareth Gates and Toyah Willcox are on board for the Marlowe Theatre pantomime…

Singer Gareth Gates and pop legend Toyah Willcox will be the star acts at this year’s Marlowe Theatre pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. After finishing runner-up to Will Young in Pop Idol in 2002, Gates went on to sell 3.5 million records with No1 hits such as Unchained Melody and Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake).

After a stint on Dancing On Ice in 2008, Gates – who will play the Prince – has performed in musicals Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Les Miserables, both on the 25th anniversary tour and in the West End.

A veteran of six Marlowe Theatre pantomimes, punk princess Willcox has had 13 top 40 singles and released 22 studio albums in her 30 year career. Set to play the Wicked Fairy, she has also presented TV shows The Good Sex Guide Late, Watchdog and Songs of Praise.

Producer Paul Hendy said: “Over the past few years, we have built a reputation for casting highly-talented performers, and Sleeping Beauty is no exception. In fact, they are all top quality – our leading man Gareth has an incredible voice and Toyah has to be the best female pantomime artist in the country. “All the cast are going to be a joy to work with and, more importantly, a joy to watch.”

Last year’s pantomime Cinderella – the first at the new Marlowe Theatre – was seen by a record breaking 83,000 people.  Sleeping Beauty will run at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, from Friday, November 30 to Sunday, January 20, 2013. Box Office 01227 787787 or visit www.marlowetheatre.com.

• The Marlowe Theatre website has also updated this morning with this news | Also reported by ITV News and Kent News.