Billy Bishop Goes to War is a Canadian musical, written by John MacLachlan Gray in collaboration with the actor Eric Peterson. One of the most famous and widely produced plays in Canadian theatre, it dramatizes the life of Canadian World Was I fighter pilot Billy Bishop.
Air Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED was a Canadian flying ace and Victoria Cross recipient of the First World War. He was officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian ace of the war.
The play premiered in Vancouver, British Columbia on Nov 3, 1978. The original production toured across Canada, and also was staged in Washington D.C., both on Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City, at The Edinburgh Festival, in Los Angeles and at The Comedy Theatre in London England.The play won the Los Angeles Drama Critics' Award in 1981, the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award in 1982 and the Governor General's Award for English Drama in 1982.
Directed by Joan Bendon and Starring William Colgate (portraying 19 character roles) and Cameron Gibson (as Piano Player) and produced by Dot The T Productions.