THEATRE PREVIEW
OCTOBER 2024 | Volume 244
Billy Bishop Goes to War
by John Gray with Eric Peterson
Metro Theatre, 1370 SW Marine Dr.
Nov. 9-30
$42-$52
www.metrotheatre.com or 604-266-7191
BUY TICKETS
Billy Bishop Goes to War is Soaring into Metro Theatre this November
The story of an iconic Canadian comes vividly to life in this hair-raising production of the classic musical, just in time for Remembrance Day.
Metro Theatre is thrilled to present the Governor General’s Award-winning musical Billy Bishop Goes to War, running November 9 to November 30, 2024. This compelling production documents the heroic exploits of Canadian flying ace Billy Bishop during his time as a pilot in the First World War. Written by Vancouver playwright John MacLachlan Gray in collaboration with Eric Peterson, the musical is celebrated as one of Canada’s modern classics. It has won numerous accolades, including the Chalmers Canadian Play Award in 1982 and the 1983 Governor General’s Award for Drama.
Since its premiere in 1978, Billy Bishop Goes to War has captivated audiences with its real-life war story, grappling with the contradictions between the horrors of battle and the ecstasy of flying. Through a combination of drama, humour, and song, Gray captures the complex yet indomitable human spirit of its hero, Billy Bishop, credited with 72 victorious flying missions and one of the few Canadian pilots to receive the Victoria Cross.
This exciting and fresh interpretation of this most iconic of Canadian plays employs a simple set and props while utilising audio-visual effects to enhance the “white-knuckle” storytelling. Audience will be on the edge of their seat as they follow Billy Bishop down into the trenches, up to the skies, through the halls of Buckingham Palace, and inside the human spirit.
This production, starring beloved Canadian actor Damon Calderwood as Billy Bishop, has toured across the country and riveted audiences with the dynamism of Calderwood’s performance. It is our pleasure to have the production return to the city where it started, and we hope it will be an opportunity for audiences young and old to join together and reflect on Canada’s history - and what it means to remember those who lost their lives fighting for it. This production opens to coincide with Remembrance Day, and is the perfect show to “learn about the sacrifices [soldiers] made so we could live as we do today.” (Legion Website)
“Gray's success with Billy Bishop lies in the universality of the human individual—a universality that works precisely because Gray has kept the show on one individual terms. He creates and deflates the hero myth in the same gesture." ~ Max Wyman, The Vancouver Sun
“Billy Bishop Goes to War is an excellent show and a fantastic showcase for a talented and inventive Canadian performer. Missing this show is a mistake for anyone who is even a casual fan of theatre. Not only does the show make for an entertaining piece of theatre, but it also shines a light on one of Canada’s great military heroes.”~Fort McMurray Today
Cast
Damon Calderwood as Billy Bishop
Chris Robson as Narrator/Piano Player
About Metro Theatre (metrotheatre.com)
For over six decades, Metro Theatre has been a vibrant part of Vancouver’s arts community, and the heartbeat of performing arts in Marpole. It is a space where emerging and seasoned artists come together to create theatre. Our large and dedicated season patrons return year after year for that special Metro Theatre experience. At Metro Theatre we believe in creating a great night out, and so from the moment a patron walks in the door, they are part of our community. We have a fully functioning, and recently refurbished, lounge which is a perfect spot for an intermission tipple. As a nurturing ground for artistic talent, Metro Theatre continues to uphold its legacy of dedication to the art of live theatre.
Metro Theatre presents Billy Bishop Goes to War
Dates: November 9-30, 2024
Preview: Nov 8
Opening: Nov 9
Times: Thursdays to Saturdays at 8:00PM; Sunday Matinee at 2pm; Doors at 7:00PM
Venue: Metro Theatre 1370 Marine Dr SW, Vancouver, BC V6P 5Z9
Ticketing: Zone A - Adult $52.00 Zone A - Senior/Student $44.00 Zone B - Adult $50.00 Zone B - Senior/Student $42.00
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