The ‘Cast’ pages at the Hormonal Housewives website have been added, including one for Toyah.
I was born on May 18th 1958; a birth date I share with Pope John Paul II. How could two people sharing the same birthday be so radically different? I bet he has never scoffed Mars Bars at 3’o clock in the morning whilst crying over Love Story. As far as I can remember I have always been hormonal, and I can remember being in my pram…
• Continue reading at hormonalhousewives.co.uk (Photo © Hormonal Housewives)
A year of celebrating Toyah’s 1982 masterpiece ‘The Changeling’ has now ended. Two UK tours, The Changeling Resurrection last Spring and, the just completed, The Changeling Resurrection II saw Toyah embrace the album for the first time in 30 years. Click below to revisit each tour by browsing numerous news posts about both. There are also dedicated TCR and TCRII pages at Dreamscape’s Gallery. (Thanks to Kevin McNamara & Damon King – and everyone else too – for the amazing photos throughout the tours)
Just at the “idea” stage at the moment, but Paul of PAC Photography may possibly make Toyah: Photographing An Icon a reality if enough people are interested in a book of his wonderful Toyah photos. Please email your interest and I’ll let Paul know.
• Another new photo of Toyah from the Hormonal Housewives session. New dates are being advertised by theatres for Folkestone, Rhyl, Scunthorpe, Bristol & Southampton.
• The Baths Hall tweeted earlier this week: “Lots of early interest in Hormonal Housewives, starring Toyah Wilcox and coming to The Baths Hall in May!”
• Kent Online: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Sleeping Beauty: One of the original reality show stars, Gareth Gates’ road to becoming runner-up on Pop Idol is still remembered fondly and he takes to the stage as the Prince. The Unchained Melody singer is joined by another singing hero, Toyah Willcox, who returns to the Marlowe for her seventh time, as the Wicked Fairy.
• Visit Canterbury: Canterbury Christmas Lights will be switched on on 15 November at 5.30pm. The full Pantomime cast from Sleeping Beauty will be appearing. Check back for more information soon.
• TCM: Quadrophenia on Blu-ray: Phil Daniels is very likeable as the woebegotten Jimmy, an okay guy with a loser’s attitude: A look at the recent Blu-ray release and of the film from an American perspective.
TCM are airing a new documentary on Derek Jarman later this month, and have a new article on The Tempest in their “Weird World Of Late Night Cinema” strand.
“O brave new world, to have such people in it.” — Miranda, The Tempest
Pioneering director Derek Jarman introduced a brave new world to filmgoers with this unconventional adaptation of William Shakespeare’s last solo dramatic effort. Prior to this 1979 release, no film director had attempted to put on screen the kind of experimental, deconstructed vision of the Bard that was starting to turn up in more experimental theatres around the globe.
• Continue reading at TCM Underground.
• SOS Film Photography Sound: A rare photo of Toyah and the artist PJ Crook.
• An excellent selection of footage from the final Changeling Resurrection II Brighton gig at Concorde2 was uploaded yesterday to ‘You Tube’ at the brilliant Toyah Fan Videos channel: The Packt, Dawn Chorus, Obsolete, Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel in You), Castaways, Angel and Me, Blue Meanings, Thunder In The Mountains, Danced, Good Morning Universe are all now online. There are more to come too!
• We still have a two month chunk of 2012 left and already live Toyah dates for 2013 are appearing: Toyah will be headlining the 70’s & 80’s Weekend at St Audries Bay Holday Club, West Quantoxhead, Somerset: Friday 1st – Monday 4th March 2013. Info & Booking: Tel: 07407 635 802, Email: boogienites55@yahoo.com (Thanks to Rob Wenham)
• Tomorrow Calling: I had completely forgotten that Colin Salmon of Doctor Who, James Bond & much more fame, and just voted off Strictly Come Dancing last Saturday starred with Toyah in Tomorrow Calling, the Short & Curlies CH4/British Screen film that was shot in Blackpool, London and at Pinewood in 1993. (Thanks Rachel)
Brilliant photos of Toyah at the final Changeling Resurrection II gig, Brighton. View larger versions of these at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Sharon Dickson)
Great photos of a weekend in Brighton! Sharon Dickson with Toyah, and Chris & Andy. Andy Mansfield with Toyah, and Sharon visiting Wykehurst Place. View larger versions of these photos at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks to Sharon)
Sensational photos of Toyah from Brighton on Saturday night. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Paul Crutchley for his generosity in sharing his, always amazing, photos | Photos © PAC Photography)
Toyah being presented with The Changeling cake, at the final gig of ‘The Changeling Resurrection II’ gig at Concorde2 in Brighton, by Nigel Glockler. How brilliant to see Nigel onstage with Toyah again. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks to Paul Crutchley | Photos © PAC Photography)
Toyah’s tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Changeling and Warrior Rock reached its finale at Concorde 2 on Saturday evening.
It was also brilliantly odd as our very own Choccywoccydoodah had their film crew present. Nigel Glockler, one of Toyah’s former drummers, introduced Toyah on stage, presenting her with a typically extravagant cake to celebrate the anniversary.
It was clear throughout that Toyah has a fantastic set of adoring fans. It’s not hard to see why either, with her infectious energy embracing the whole crowd.
• Continue reading at The Argus.
A slightly different version of ‘Ghosts In The Universe’ from Toyah’s 1988 album Prostitute has recently been uploaded to You Tube. It isn’t vastly different but it certainly isn’t the same as the version available on the album. (Thanks to secondsish)
Two more: Waiting (Goodbye Mankind) and Last Goodbye. Unsure if these “slightly different” versions of well-known Toyah songs are fan “mixed” or not.
Well I sell my soul to Faust, each and every night for you…
An incredible lyric to start a song with. Even at 13 it impressed me, although I didn’t actually have a clue what it meant at the time. ‘Run Wild, Run Free’ is one of the standout tracks on The Changeling. No mean feat when you consider how good the entire album is.
A muted and subdued beginning belies the intensity of the song, and some of the lyrics sound incredibly personal and directed at a particular person: “It’s a lonely time, I’ve walked from the limelight, into an empty cobbled street… for you” .
Toyah’s voice is outstanding throughout, as are her own backing vocals. I really believe(d) she means every word she sings, and the band as always sound great. I love the energy and intensity, and the drama, of ‘Run Wild, Run Free’ from beginning to end – although there isn’t really an end as it segues brilliantly into ‘Brave New World’!
Written by the juggernaut songwriting team of Willcox/Bogen, produced by Steve Lillywhite and released in Summer 1982, it is one of the best Toyah songs of the Safari years.
Nigel Glockler, a former member of Toyah, presented Toyah with a Changeling cake at the final concert of The Changeling Resurrection II Tour at Concorde2, Brighton on Saturday night. Here’s the unique cake, and Toyah… (Photos © Damon King)
View Damon’s Concorde2 footage (I Want To Be Free, It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, Obsolete, Good Morning Universe) here, and Kevin Tucker’s (Ieya) here.
Behind The Sofa, the Doctor Who book in which Toyah contributes a memory, has finally been published and is now available to buy from Amazon and other online book stores.
Behind The Sofa is a collection of over 100 celebrity memories of Doctor Who, compiled in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
• View a review of the book at Impact Online, a news report at Velvet Onion and a preview of some of the excellent content at Radio Times.
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. With lavish sets, beautiful costumes, brilliant musical numbers, amazing illusions, lots of comedy and even a fire-breathing dragon, this promises to be Canterbury’s most magical pantomime yet. Sleeping Beauty runs from 30 November to 20 January.
Whitefriars has a family ticket for four to give away for this year’s panto, courtesy of The Marlowe Theatre. The tickets are for the special 4 December VIP performance and include free passes to the after-show drinks party with the cast. Closing date is 26 November 2012.
• Continue reading, and enter the competition, at Whitefriars Canterbury.
The ‘Whitstable People’ news report (see below) means there are now five Christmas Lights switch-ons by the Marlowe Theatre Sleeping Beauty cast taking place in the lead up to the panto opening on 30th November.
These are: Canterbury (15 Nov/5.30pm), Herne Bay (16 Nov/5pm), Whitstable (17 Nov/6pm), Deal (22 Nov/7.30pm) and Dover (24 Nov/5.30pm).
Please note that the Sleeping Beauty cast appearing at the above events are thus far unconfirmed. As is which cast members will be participating in each switch-on!
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.
Live footage from two recent Changeling Resurrection II gigs: Ieya at The Horn in St Albans (1st November) and Our Movie at The Electric Palace in Bridport (26th October). Click on either below to view at ‘You Tube’. (Thanks to Kevin Tucker & Stephen Bennett Troake)
Coming Soon: A dedicated page at Dreamscape’s Gallery for the various Toyah bits & pieces I’ve put together over the years. Storing it all in the one place will mean easier access to having a laugh at my feeble attempts at “fan art”. I didn’t realise quite how many I’d done!
A few more eightiestastic photos of Toyah taken when she guested on The Saturday Show in 1982 and then presented an edition of the programme, in 1983. View more here. Please click below to zoom. (Thanks again to Ray Sears for sharing his rare photos of Toyah!)
