Facebook Pixel Skip to main content
The Female Edison

The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

Margaret E. Knight was a 19th century inventor with two big but forgotten stories.

At 12 years of age, while working at a textile factory, she invented a part to improve the safety of a power loom. How did she not only get mill management to listen to her idea but implement it?

As an adult, she invented a machine to mass-produce flat bottom paper bags. This invention was eventually stolen from her so she hired a lawyer to take the case to court. The defense was that “there is no way a woman could have invented this.” How did Margaret persist and secure her place in the annals of invention?

Drama

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Running Time
About 70 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
24 Characters
2 F22 Any Gender
Set
Simple set
Length
79 pages
Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
Download a free Classroom Study Guide

What to order?

Not sure what you need to order? Check out our pricing and ordering guide.

Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

24 Characters
2 F, 22 Any Gender

Aside from Margaret, directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

MARGARET [F] 238 lines
Inventor. Adult. Worked in factories and many jobs where she used her hands (repairs, furniture upholstery)
MATTIE [F] 162 lines
Margaret at 12 years old. Tough. Spirited.
ACT ONE
Margaret's Family
HANNAH [A] 41 lines
Margaret’s mother, factory worker
JIM [A] 42 lines
Margaret’s brother, Weaving Room #3 Assistant Overseer
CHARLIE [A] 44 lines
Margaret’s brother, factory worker
Factory Operatives
HARRIET [A] 23 lines
MARY [A] 10 lines
SARAH [A] 17 lines
ELIZA [A] 8 lines
LUCY [A] 13 lines
FRANCES [A] 17 lines
GEORGE [A] 9 lines
HENRY [A] 11 lines
SAMUEL [A] 11 lines
5 ADDITIONAL OPERATIVES FOR GROUP SCENES [A]
Factory Management
BAKER, Jacob [A] 21 lines
Weaving Room #2 Overseer
GREEN, Daniel [A] 26 lines
Foreman of Repairs
LIGHTBODY, Eugene [A] 4 lines
Superintendent of Weaving
STICKNEY, William [A] 33 lines
Weaving Room #2 Assistant Overseer
PIERCE, James [A] 3 lines
Mill Manager #4
ACT TWO
CHARLES [A] 45 lines
Machinist. Inventor.
KNOX, John [A] 29 lines
Factory Supervisor.
CANTWELL, David [A] 23 lines
Patent Lawyer.
GRAHAM, Wil [A] 5 lines
Machinist
ABBOT, Lewis [A] 7 lines
Machinist
DUNCAN, Arthur [A] 6 lines
Acting Commissioner
PATENT OFFICE CLERK [A] 1 line
Duncan’s clerk.
Factory Operatives
EMMA [A] 36 lines
GRACE [A] 33 lines
RUTH [A] 19 lines
ELLIE [A] 33 lines
ALICE [A] 24 lines
4 FEMALE INVENTORS [A] 4 lines
Should come from cast of actors
Groups
19TH CENTURY GROUP [A] 23 lines
INVENTORS GROUP [A] 12 lines
INVENTION GROUP [A] 56 lines

More Plays Like The Female Edison

Failure and Fortitude: The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

Failure and Fortitude: The Female Edison

Failure and fortitude are the touchstones for every inventor, but even more so for 19th century female inventors.

Patterns and Power: The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

Patterns and Power: The Female Edison

How did a 12 year old girl, with little education and no experience with mechanical engineering invent a safety part for a power loom?

The Pauper Princess

by Holly Beardsley inspired by Mark Twain

The Pauper Princess

A retelling of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper.

Tough City, Prone to Rain

by Alan Haehnel

Tough City, Prone to Rain

A noir play featuring the ace detectives from the Broadly Speaking Detective Agency.

Finding Jo March

by Laramie Dean

Finding Jo March

You should know right away that this is not a traditional adaptation of Little Women.

Jane Austen, Completely Zoomed

by Treanor Baring

Jane Austen, Completely Zoomed

A fast-paced, witty modern take on Austen’s six classic masterpieces.

From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

The Female Edison
Featured Plays

Theatrefolk Featured Play: The Female Edison

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. The Female Edison by Lindsay Price is an incredible ensemble piece with something for everyone! Margaret E. Knight was a 19th century inventor with two big...
We accept

In addition to the above payment methods, Purchase Orders are accepted from US and Canadian Schools.

Info for your purchasing department