Come one, come all, to the Trial of Ben Hall.
This is, of course, the trial the bushranger whose name is forever connected with the Escort Gold Robbery never received.
It was imagined in 1986 by then Forbes solicitor Dominic Williams, who penned a play to look at Hall, "whose name continues to grow in Australian legend as a folklore hero, more wronged against than wrong himself."
"I trust the Trial of Ben Hall will not only entertain and educate but lead to a better understanding of the enigma that was Ben Hall – it being the trial that Ben Hall never received," Mr Williams wrote at the time.
Now Forbes Shire Council's Heritage Advisory Committee is bringing it back to life.
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Our historic former Presbyterian Church will be transformed into an 1860s courtroom for the occasion, on Friday 9 May.
This day will mark 188 year's from Hall's birth and 160 years since he was shot dead - without trial - on 5 May 1865.
This imagined trial is an opportunity to open up discussion about our region's history, says the committee's Monica Wren.
Heritage advisory committee members and willing volunteers from our community have put their hands up to feature in the play, with Lewis Wilde to take the lead as Hall.
Expect colourful characters from the past come to life, and a bit of fun as these locals look to make Hall a talking point again.
Mr Williams' thorough research brings forward the characters of the day and looks at the Escort Rock Gold Robbery that occurred just outside Eugowra, as well as the events that preceded it.
The play is for those who know Hall's story, and also for those who don't, for those who have an opinion about Hall and those who don't - and it can be contentious, Mrs Wren said.
There are those who see Hall as a local lad treated appallingly and forced into a life of crime, others who ask why we would glorify criminals.
"It's our history - our colonial history," Mrs Wren said.
"It's only one part of the story but it tells the unique story of what life was like for Forbes in the goldfields era."
The play itself will leave the verdict up to the jury on the night.
"At the end we don't know what's going to happen: defence and prosecution will present an argument, the jury will deliberate - and we won't know if he's guilty or not guilty," Mrs Wren said.
While a number of jury members have already been empanelled in Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, Alister Lockhart OAM, Dr Untung Laksito, Laurel Hull and Bruce Adams, the remainder will be plucked from the audience on the night.
Tea and refreshments will be served while the jury deliberates.
Want to know more? Forbes Museum has an extensive Ben Hall exhibition and is open 2-4pm every day.
Such is the popularity of the Ben Hall story, the 100 tickets to this show have booked out in a record 24hours.
