We ended our “Good News” series at the jail with the story of Jesus cleansing a leper (Mark 1:40-45). We used the drama bag: one person gesturing inside the bag and another telling the story. This technique was introduced to me a number of years ago when I was in Australia by our two Catholic hosts—Christian educators par excellence. I brought a yellow and a blue drama bag home with me and periodically get them out for use in a storytelling workshop.

This Fall is the first time I have used a drama bag for several years, and the first time ever using one in a detention setting. Most of the women do not want to get inside, but everyone enjoys watching. While one woman gestured inside the drama bag, the other told (or in one case read) the story as best she could remember. Below are three poses in the drama bag by two different women for the story of Jesus cleansing a leper.