Bible Women Speak began with a yearning to know what it would have felt like to be in Israel and meet Jesus, hear His teachings and witness the events of his life, death and Resurrection. Nurturing this desire, I began a personal journey of contemplation, study of scripture, and research of theological texts to create sacred dramas that would inspire my faith and connection to Jesus.
My experience of the power of sacred drama was developed over a lifetime career in creating theatrical productions as a vehicle to stir the soul and speak our heart's longing. With a BFA in Theater from Boston University, I have performed and directed theater in regional theater and off-Broadway, and have taught theater to people of all ages.
A member of Network of Biblical Storytellers Int'l, the Founder of Healing Theatre, and a professional storyteller, I have explored the nature and power inherent in story. With a career focused on how to marry theater with the sacred, I was inspired to create sacred dramas based on the gospels to have the words and verses leap from the page and into our lives and hearts in a meaningful and beautiful way.
Olivia Woodford
Using the perspective and life experience of the women of the gospels, a portal opened for me to imagine what it may have been like to meet and know Jesus. From this, a series of plays emerged that illuminate the experience Jesus’ followers may have had, the role of women in His ministry and the cultural customs and realities of Israel that give context to scriptural events.
I began performing these one-woman dramas to Christian communities and schools of all denominations across the country and internationally.
Clergy, church leaders and educators then asked if I would facilitate retreats where vignettes of the performances could be presented along with the research and background that went into creating them, and from this inspire reflection and discussion.
Periodically, I will be asked to create dramas on old testament women, and my response is that this is for someone else to create. My inspiration has been to bring the time of Jesus to life. However, in 2016 a church approached me to create a drama on Sarah and Hagar for a retreat where Christian and Muslim women were coming together. I had just returned from the Holy Land where the tension between Jew, Christian and Muslims had been pervasive and had left me contemplating how each of these religions share the same Patriarch, Abraham. In accepting their invitation, the door has opened to old testament women and events.
What began as a labor of love has grown into a ministry that has deepened my faith and brought me into a fuller and richer relationship with Jesus and the community of His followers.
Sharing this ministry with others is my profound joy. If your church, school, conference, retirement home, or group is interested in hosting a performance or retreat, I look forward to talking with you about how we can make this happen.
Blessings,
Olivia
