Airdrie Town Hall, Saturday, 20th June
Toyah, picture by Andrew Hunter
Toyah Wilcox has had a fascinating career spanning acting, singing and TV presenting. At this most enjoyable show, she recounted her career including many amusing and entertaining anecdotes along with singing some of her greatest hits including “It’s a Mystery”, “Echo Beach” and “I Want to be Free”. A large screen in the background showed the original pop videos.
In the upper circle was her husband Robert Fripp of King Crimson, who often provided a foil to Toyah’s stories. During lockdown they produced a highly popular series screened across social media called “Sunday Lunch”. In one episode Toyah persuaded him to dance in a tutu in their back garden, which he regretted doing. It was only when “Rolling Stone” magazine credited his contribution to “Sunday Lunch” with a revival in interest in prog rock that he felt better about it!
Toyah also recalled her work with the late film director Derek Jarman which included “Jubilee” and “The Tempest”. Another major film role was Monkey in “Quadrophenia”, where she persuaded Leslie Ash to pogo punk-style to be noticed in one scene although this might be somewhat anachronistic given that it was a film set in 1965! It wasn’t always a comfortable life performing; her recollection of the filming of the video for her 1981 hit “Thunder in the Mountains” involved her riding what might be described as a cut-and-shut chariot that would send modern health and safety people into a fit.
Towards the end of the evening Toyah took questions that had been submitted by members of the audience during the intermission. The show finished with “I want to be Free” in which the audience were encouraged to sing along, which they did quite enthusiastically.
“An Evening with Toyah, Songs and Stories” was a most enjoyable two hours spent in the company of a most accomplished performer of many talents.
By Andrew Hunter
