It is one of several events being held to celebrate Beechworth’s Ned Kelly Weekend.

Peter Finlay is Ned Kelly’s death mask, reciting all 8000 words of the iconic letter interspersed by music by Malcolm Hill.

“Ned Kelly was a childhood hero, and as I read his letter again I could hear his voice in my head,” Mr Finlay said.

“I felt it was something that had to be performed to reveal the whole psychology of his character.

“There is a sense of guilt and justification of the police he killed but it is also a call to arms.”

Mr Finlay said Kelly could be compared with a revolutionary who envisioned an Australian republic.

“For the first three quarters of the letter you feel a great deal of sympathy for Kelly,” Mr Hill said.

“He can be charming and funny, and has a way of telling a story only the Irish have — it can be unusual, but it’s effective.

“The songs break up the narrative and help to create the myth of Ned Kelly, bringing the sense of emotion to a different level.”

The performance will be held at the at the Beechworth historic courthouse at 7.30pm.