Armidale Courthouse Trust is an ad hoc committee just formed to turn the building into a cultural hub.

Its first plan is to stage the two plays in the main building.

“Witness for the Prosecution was a great film starring Marlene Dietrich and Trial by Jury is a fantastic operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan which is a satire on the British justic system,”  trust chairman Gordon Cope said.

“Our ambition is to stage these as plays in the old court house and we have good community support.”

Already pledged is $10,000 to keep the building in public hands and Mr Cope said three builders were prepared to volunteer their services to repair the building and renovate it as a useable theatre.

Other supporters include BackTrack and the Harmony Group.

The building is owned by the NSW government and was about to be auctioned in June last year when the NSW Aboriginal Land Council lodged a land claim over the site.

If upheld, the claim would mean the land council would own the building.

No decision has yet been made.

Armidale Dumaresq councillor Jim Maher said the historic building in the Beardy Street Mall had fallen into a state of disrepair.

“I hope something is done soon because paint is peeling and the plaster is falling from the building’s facade,” Cr Maher said.

Mr Cope said two other rooms in the court house could be used as a wine bar and community space, both leased to help pay the bills.

The main court room seated about 100 people, about half the size of the Hoskins Arts Centre, conducive to smaller performances.

“There’s no other intimate performance space for such productions in Armidale,” Mr Cope said.

The trust has set up an online petition, accessible through its new Facebook page.