“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” So declared Jaques in Act II, Scene VII of William Shakespeare’s oft-produced play “As You Like It.” In Silver City, the players take that pronouncement quite literally, bringing the bard’s immortal words to life not on stage, but in the dramatic depths of Big Ditch Park. DitchSpeare makes its celebratory return for two weekends this year, from April 17-29 with mid-week shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
More than just a performance, DitchSpeare is a pastiche of speeches, poetry, music, improv, and dance from Shakespeare and his contemporaries—such as Lope de Vega and Sor Juana de la Cruz of Spain and Mexico, respectively. The tone is lighthearted and fun with some deeper emotions and some mature themes thrown in. There is some naughty Shakespearean language and some very mild violence (no blood, no guns), which makes it suitable for most audiences.
Ditchspeare received so much support from the community when it premiered in 2023 that director Hallie Harris chose to draw the experiment out into an annual event. “Watch out,” Harris joked, “if you feed the actors, they’ll keep showing up for more!”
This year’s production owes a debt to the Shakespeare Sonnets produced in Gough Park in 2019 directed by Frost McGahey, Shakespeare WILL instructor and author of the play “Who Invited Falstaff?,” as well as the NM Shakespeare festival in Albuquerque, the local Virus theatre's site specific and outdoor work, and to the outdoor Shakespeare Harris saw growing up in Texas.
“I love street theatre and outdoor performance. I love the sense of community, and I love spending time outdoors and letting my imagination fly while I listen to beautiful words and immerse myself in story and character,” Harris said. “We’re sharing some of our favorite literature here, but playing with it and creating something that’s fun and timely and relatable. We hope you think so too.”
Because DitchSpeare is an outdoor event, audiences are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, sunscreen, bug spray, and dress in layers as the air cools down at night in the mountains. There will be some concessions available, “we love to see people pack a picnic and enjoy being outside,” said producer and performer Wendy Spurgeon, founder of TheActrix Studios LLC.
DitchSpeare performances will run for two weeks: Thursdays, April 17 & 24, at 6 p.m.; Fridays, April 18 & 25, at 6 p.m.; with two shows on Saturdays, April 19 & 26 at both 4 p.m. & 6 p.m.; Sundays, April 20 & 27 at 6 p.m.; and Tuesdays, April 22 & 29 at 6 p.m. in the Big Ditch Park.
To get there, head south of Main Street Plaza, which is accessed between 6th and 7th streets in downtown Silver City. The playing space can be reached most directly via the two flights of stone stairs near the South corner of Main Street Plaza or via the ramp off Kelly Street.
DitchSpeare is produced by the TheActrix Studio, LLC, and is free to the public, although donations or “pay-what-you-will” tickets are encouraged, and the actors will pass a hat. Information, tickets, and opportunities to support the production can be found at https://TheActrix.studio/DitchSpeare.
