She was the princess of punk but now she's taking a step up to become the queen of the damned for a new stage production.

Toyah Willcox is to join the cast of heavy metal musical Vampires Rock when it arrives in Hull for a two-night stay next week.

The 50-year-old singer, who shot to fame in the 80s with an outrageous punk image and hit singles such as It's A Mystery and I Want To Be Free, has joined show creator Steve Steinman for the futuristic show featuring classic rock anthems by bands including AC/DC, Queen, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Meat Loaf and Guns 'N' Roses.

But it's no mystery why Toyah has joined the cast of the musical which has been touring non-stop for the last four years.

"If I was living in some ivory tower somewhere I would be bored to death," she says. "I just really enjoy working and diversifying, experiencing new things.

"I do an awful lot of 80s shows so I'm not scared of musical nostalgia and the very clever thing about Vampires Rock is it already has a massive cult following and is built upon the best and greatest rock anthems there are in the whole world."

And Toyah, who starred in seminal art house film Jubilee and The Who's Quadrophenia, says she didn't hesitate when asked by Steinman to play his devilish bride.

She is especially looking forward to seeing the hoards of fans turning up to see the show in outrageous vampire costumes.

"I was asked to come in and play quite a controversial character, The Devil Queen, which quite appealed to me," she laughs. "I'm singing, I'm doing comedy, I'm wearing some pretty outrageous costumes and I also get to improvise because there is quite a lot of improvisation throughout the evening, so it has everything I love to do as a performer."

In the show Toyah plays the 2,000-year-old wife of the villainous Baron Von Rockula who runs Club Live And Let Die in a futuristic New York.

But when the Baron decides to trade his old wife in for a younger model in the shape of singer Pandora, all Hell breaks loose to a anthemic rock soundtrack.

The production has proved so popular this year that it has announced a second night at Hull New Theatre.

Vampires Rock is at Hull New Theatre, Kingston Square, Hull, on Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3, at 7.30pm. The Tuesday performance is now sold out. Tickets cost from £16.50. To book, call (01482) 226655