Jacka VC: Legend of Gallipoli was written and directed by William James Smith and is inspired by Hard Jacka, a biography written by Michael Lawriwsky.

Smith was inspired to write write the musical after being unable to put down the biography.

“I was very impressed by the story and got sucked right into it,” he said.

‘It felt like I was with him in the trenches. Michael didn’t shy away from the action which adds such tension and danger to the story. That’s Jacka all over.”

Albert Jacka was born in Winchelsea but moved to Wedderburn with his family at age five.

He was part of the 14^th Battalion of the AIF and was the first Australian to receive the Victoria Cross after storming and occupying a trench held by Turkish fighters.

“(Jacka) was a man of action who was daring, fearless and had incredible strength of will and intelligence,” Smith said.

“He was assisted in the trenches by ‘The Boys From Bendigo’ Steve deAraugo, Bill Howard and Frank Poliness. There’s still a lot of their descendants in Bendigo.”

Jacka VC: Legend of Gallipoli arrives at The Capital for one show on October 17.

The cast and crew are excited to bring Jacka’s story to his home region.

“Local people and people from the Bendigo RSL have been saying they better put tickets aside,” Smith said.

“Wedderburn was Jacka's home town, Bendigo people know all about him and we can't wait to come up there.”

Smith has always played in bands and had a passing interest in theatre.

This production was his first attempt at writing something for the stage.

“I have written a couple of unpublished novels, so I had an understanding of putting together a long narrative,” he said.

“From Michael’s book I had to decide which episodes are needed and which aren’t and what requires songs and what doesn’t.

“Musicals are strange beasts because people don’t normally break into song randomly. The emotions have to be so strong that it’s plausible they they do burst into song.”

Smith said the Victorian Government helped fund the production which premiers in Melbourne on October 9.

Jacka VC: Legend of Gallipoli is on at The Capital on Saturday, October 17 at 8pm.

For tickets phone 5434 6100 or visit www.thecapital.com.au/Whats_On/Jacka_VC