Burien Actors Theatre (BAT) is no stranger to difficult topics. The creative directors often choose shows that force audiences to grapple with the complex and heavy facts of life. “Rebellious Women,” a play by Beth Flintoff, is no exception.
Though set in the years 1909-1918, the show is as relevant now as it was in the early 1900s, bringing audiences up close and personal with freedoms that were hard won and all too often taken for granted.
In “Rebellious Women,” the UK’s Women’s Suffrage movement is seen through the eyes of Edith Begbie (Mari Roy), a mild-mannered housewife who wanders into her first Suffragette meeting in search of cake. Once there, she is introduced to the movement through the voices of radical women’s rights activists Rose Lamartine Yates (Elizabeth Ogle), Emily, (Alyson Lapan), and Constance (Amy Anderson).
At first offended by the ideology the Suffragettes are promoting, Edith comes to embrace the cause for women’s rights by witnessing the harrowing mistreatment they sustain in their quest for the right to vote. As time moves forward, Edith transforms into a Suffragette willing to go to such extreme lengths for the cause that she pushes some women away in her quest towards equality.
As the character through whom we see the story unfold, Roy’s Edith is the heart of the show. At first, she is a feather-brained simple woman who has never questioned the ethos she was taught about the proper place of women. Throughout the play, she is transformed into a brazen, radical Suffragette in her own right. Roy had the difficult task of being the driving energy of the show, and she performed this beautifully, ensuring the humor and heart of each scene landed.
Ogle played the outspoken Suffragette Rose Lamartine Yates with all the determination the character calls for, standing tall as the fearless leader Edith so longs to imitate.
Lapan and Anderson had the task of playing multiple roles in the show, including the husbands of Edith and Rose. It is difficult to perform multiple characters in a single show, and both performers managed the range required of them easily, though the subtleties of the costume changes at times confused who was meant to be who.
Though the script for “Rebellious Women” is informative and educational, its impact would be more deeply felt had Flintoff included more “showing” and less “telling,” allowing for a larger narrative to be told. Witnessing the inhumanity of systemic inequality translated in the lives of women from every class of society would perhaps have landed more deeply than a show that mostly consists of the cold hard facts.
Despite any missed emotional opportunities the script may have had, BAT’s production of “Rebellious Women” is commendable, especially considering the unfortunate reality that the topic of women’s rights is as salient now as it was in 1909.
The uncomfortable fact remains that the fight for equality between sexes is still a war; and we are all faced with the question — are we willing to fight for freedom or die complacent?
“Rebellious Women” runs through Sunday, May 3, 2026.
Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 pm. at the Little Theatre at Kennedy Catholic High School, 140 S. 140th Street (map below).
Tickets
Ticket prices range from $15 to $25. Student tickets are always $5. For tickets and details, go to https://battheatre.org/rebellious-woman-spring-2026/, or call 206-242-5180 (message only).
If ticket pricing is a barrier, reach out to BAT at tickets@BATtheatre.org—theater is for everyone! Free/reduced price access for Rebellious Women is supported by 4Culture and the City of Burien.
Save $3 Off With Our Discount Code
Save $3 by using the discount code BLOG after selecting the number of tickets you want here (see highlighted area of screenshot below).
Special thanks to Kennedy Catholic High School and Evergreen City Ballet.
This is a non-Equity production presented by arrangement with Nick Hern Books.
The Cast, Directors & Designers
Co-stage directors Rochelle Flynn and Maggie Larrick direct the talented cast of Mari Roy (Edith), Elizabeth Ogle (Rose, Christabel), Amy Anderson (Constance, Beatrice, Gervase, Rev. Godwin, Mrs. Gladstone, various) and Alyson Lapan (Bertha, Emily, Tom, various). The creative team for the show includes: Rob Falk, lighting design; Jester Kamps, costume design; Timothy Duval, sound effects design; Cyndi Baumgardner, props design and set dressing, and Eric Dickman, set and sound design. Melissa Carter is stage manager.
About BAT Theatre
Incorporated in 1980, BAT Theatre is a leading producer of affordable, quality live theater serving residents of the Puget Sound region. BAT gives audiences an invigorating theater experience with unusual productions. The theater’s mission is to “welcome and embrace our shared humanity through live theater. We question norms and thrive because of our diversity and energetic commitment to excellence.” As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity, BAT operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants and sponsorships, plus volunteer time.
Photos
Click arrows or swipe images to view slideshow of photos by Michael Brunk:
