Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Grieve The Capital: Derek Jarman’s Jubilee Turns 40

Derek Jarman’s film of visionary alchemy and edgeland punks now tells of a time before the gentrification of the capital when occulture and subculture sat side-by-side, says Adam Scovell

Released in Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee year of 1978 as a provocation seemingly towards just about everyone, it’s little wonder Derek Jarman’s second feature film, Jubilee, caused such an uproar. The Queen herself is mugged and killed for her crown early on in a Deptford edgeland, the punk movement still then raging over London is unconsciously sent up by some of the very people who were part of it, and the raw mixture of violence, conservative nostalgia, swipes at Catholicism and copious nudity makes it as anarchic as anything the director made afterwards.

Amongst this incredibly heady concoction of both successful and failed attempts at creating a feasible narrative world, however, sits something far more essential; a time-capsule of a period in London’s history when subcultures grew overtly and naturally due to the city’s many affordable, derelict areas.

The film begins with Elizabeth I (Jenny Runacre) and her alchemist, Dr. John Dee (Richard O’Brien), who conjures forth Ariel (David Brandon), William Shakespeare’s magical being from The Tempest. Thanks to Ariel’s powers imbued into a crystal, the trio travel forward through the cascading years, from the sixteenth-century to a brutal, dystopian vision of 1970s London. The city is ravaged but alive, the streets housing violent groups of punk girl-gangs who fend off police harassment and cause mayhem. Prams are burning and people are killed whilst bands, including Adam And The Ants and Siouxsie And The Banshees, play endlessly on television. Ritual violence is spreading as is this new form of music, ready to be co-opted by financial maniacs to sell to a brainwashed youth; providing further wealth to buy up the newly empty Buckingham Palace and turn it into a recording studio. The film is perhaps more famous for its string of cameos: Adam Ant, The Slits smashing up a car, Toyah Willcox playing Mad and too many others to name. But it’s more than the sum of its pop-culture reference points.

• Continue reading at The Quietus.

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.

Toyah Willcox on the stage version of Derek Jarman’s controversial film “Jubilee” and actress Daniella Isaacs on her show about our obsession with raw food – Listen at BBC iPlayer by clicking below. (Photo © BBC)

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Thursday 8th February: 0.50am
26.11.1981: Mike Read presents the pop chart show, first broadcast on 26 November 1981. Includes appearances by Kim Wilde, Jets, Toyah, Kool and the Gang, Earth Wind and Fire, Cliff Richard, Ultravox, and Queen and David Bowie.

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Tuesday 6th February: 1am
15/10/1981. David ‘Kid’ Jensen presents the TOTP hits of the week, first broadcast on 15 October 1981. Includes appearances from BA Robertson & Maggie Bell, Squeeze, Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, This Year’s Blonde, Toyah, the Creatures and Bad Manners. Also includes a dance sequence by Legs & Co. (NB: Toyah’s appearance is via the TITM video)

Singer and actress Toyah Willcox will be the star guest at a charity event at the New Vic Theatre

Toyah Willcox will be the guest performer at a fund-raising 80s night.

Newcastle-based engineering firm KMF has organised the event, which is being staged at The New Vic Theatre. Eric’s 80s Night on Monday, March 19 will include an 80s band led by David Graham as Eric followed by a performance by Toyah.

Dressing up in 80s costumes is encouraged and there will be a raffle and auction. VIP tickets are available for a meet and greet with Toyah.

• Continue reading at The Sentinel. Browse Toyah’s 2018 Gig Diary at toyahwillcox.com for all confirmed dates.

KMF present a Fundraising Concert: Eric’s ’80s Night with Special Guest Toyah Willcox

KMF Group invites you to join us for a night of some of the best hits of the ’80s with New Vic Favourite, Eric (David Graham) and very special guest, Toyah Willcox!

This evening is a fundraising event in aid of Donna Louise, DougieMac and the New Vic Theatre.

Dress to impress (for the ’80s) Evening includes a mega raffle & auction

SPECIAL VIP TICKET AVAILABLE: £50: With our special VIP ticket, join us pre-show in our Lounge for drinks & nibbles, and the chance to meet Toyah Willcox.

• Further info/Book tickets here. Browse Toyah’s 2018 Gig Diary at toyahwillcox.com for all confirmed dates.

Toyah will be a guest of Johnnie Walker on BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the 70s on Sunday 11 February. Toyah will discuss the beginnings of her career in the 1970s and revisiting the Derek Jarman film Jubilee which has been adapted for the stage and plays London’s Lyric Hammersmith this Spring.

Sounds Of The 70s: BBC Radio 2: Sunday 11th February: 3pm
Sounds Of The 70s: BBC Radio 2: Tuesday 13th February: 0.00am
Toyah shares her memories of growing up as the ‘only punk in the village’ and finally finding her people at a Sex Pistols gig.

Coming Soon to BBC Radio 4 – Toyah in conversation with Alice Lowe. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Thursday 1st February: 1.40am
01/10/81. Mike Read introduces the pop programme. Includes appearances from Godley & Creme (Under Your Thumb), Sheena Easton (Just Another Broken Heart), The Teardrop Explodes (Passionate Friend), The Creatures (Mad Eyed Screamer), Ottawan (Hands Up [Give Me Your Heart]), Toyah (Thunder In The Mountains), Bad Manners (Walking In The Sunshine), Altered Images (Happy Birthday), Dollar (Hand Held In Black & White), Adam & The Ants (Prince Charming).

Lies We Tell, Mitu Misra’s gritty Britflick starring Gabriel Byrne, Harvey Keitel, Mark Addy, Nicholas Farrell, Gina McKee, Toyah Willcox, Emily Atack, Sibylla Deen and Jan Uddin will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 2nd February 2018.

• Click on the promo poster below to view the trailer. Browse all of our Lies We Tell news here.

Toyah Willcox webchat – your questions answered on punk, rabbits and fighting for her back catalogue

The singer and actor, who is starring in a stage version of Derek Jarman’s Jubilee, on her bucket list, how she’d explain punk to aliens and what she’d like for her 60th birthday

This has been great fun! It’s enlightening to hear your questions. Thank you so much for your time. Let’s do it again! And come and see Jubilee at the Lyric Hammersmith from 15 Feb to 10 March. Be prepared to be offended, to laugh til you hurt, to shed tears at the sheer brilliance and beauty of it.

• Continue reading at The Guardian.

Jubilee: London Live: Monday 29th January: 2.30am
Jubilee: London Live: Wednesday 31st January: 2am
Queen Elizabeth I travels through time from 1578 to 1978, where she sees what has become of her once glorious kingdom: law and order have broken down and punks roam the streets. Director: Derek Jarman. Starring: Jenny Runacre,  Nell Campbell, Toyah Willcox, Hermine Demoriane, Ian Charleson, Karl Johnson.

NB: London Live is available on: Freeview 8, Sky 117, Virgin 159, YouView 8.

Dreamscape’s Toyah news for the last 12 months has now been added to our News Archive.

The singer and actor, who is starring in a stage version of Derek Jarman’s punk movie Jubilee, will answer your questions at 1.30pm GMT on Monday 22 January

Toyah Willcox is not a woman to be pinned down. A singer, actor, TV presenter and stock market magnate, she has been a permanent fixture in British culture since the age of 19, when she played flame-haired pyromaniac Mad in Derek Jarman’s 1978 punk film Jubilee.

Since then, she has recorded 24 albums and had 13 Top 40 singles, including It’s a Mystery and I Want to Be Free. She has also appeared in more than 40 plays and 15 films, including Quadrophenia, The Ebony Tower (opposite Laurence Olivier) and The Corn is Green (with Katharine Hepburn). On TV, she’s been a religious affairs reporter for The Heaven and Earth Show, narrated Teletubbies and done a stint on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

Now, she is returning to Jubilee in a new stage adaptation at the Lyric Hammersmith in London. She takes on the role of the time-travelling queen who arrives in a dystopia where a new generation seethes with anger at the establishment. “At the time it was made, it was utterly outrageous,” Willcox has said of the original film, describing it as a story of “women who are trying to kind of kill everything that controls them or that has exploited them … It’s a very resonant story today. Nothing’s changed except the technology.”

• Continue reading at The Guardian.

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Tuesday 23rd January: 1am
04/06/1981. Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Siouxsie and the Banshees (Spellbound), Shakin’ Stevens (You Drive Me Crazy), Kate Robbins (More Than in Love), Squeeze (Is That Love?), Imagination (Body Talk), The Jam (Funeral Pyre), Michael Jackson (One Day in Your Life), Toyah (I Want To Be Free), Phil Collins (If Leaving Me Is Easy), Adam & The Ants (Stand & Deliver), Odyssey (Going Back To My Roots).

Who’s Doing The Dishes?: ITV2: Wednesday 31st January: 10.10am
Brian McFadden presents the dining challenge. Will it remain a mystery that Toyah Willcox is the celebrity host when she throws a dinner party for four complete strangers?

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**

Toyah’s first blog of 2018 is available to read at toyahwillcox.com.

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Friday 12th January: 0.00am
Mike Read presents. Duran Duran (Planet Earth), Talking Heads (Once In A Lifetime), Adam & The Ants (Kings Of The Wild Frontier), Toyah (It’s A Mystery), Shakin’ Stevens (This Ole House), Motorhead & Girlschool (Please Don’t Touch), Phil Collins (I Missed Again), Kool & The Gang (Jones Vs Jones), Teardrop Explodes (Reward), The Who (You Better You Bet), Joe Dolce (Shaddap Your Face). This originally aired on BBC1 on 5th March 1981. Toyah’s appearance is a repeat of their first studio performance which aired two weeks previously on 19th February 1981.

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Tuesday 16th January: 1.40am
Peter Powell presents. The Jacksons (Can You Feel It?), Sharron Redd (Can You Handle It?), Shakin’ Stevens (This Ole House), Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone (What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?), The Who (You Better You Bet), Stevie Wonder (Lately), Phil Collins (I Missed Again), Bucks Fizz (Making Your Mind Up), Visage (Mind Of A Toy), Duran Duran (Planet Earth), Toyah (It’s A Mystery), Roxy Music (Jealous Guy). This originally aired on BBC1 on 19th March 1981 and was Toyah’s second studio appearance/performance (pictured above).