Dear Medieval Times Team,

I recently was made aware online of a response you sent to someone who was inquiring why you didn't have Lady Knights. Your response was: "To preserve the authenticity and genuineness of the scripted role of knights in the medieval times theatrical production, Knight positions are reserved for male performers. Because knight positions are filled exclusively from the ranks of squires who have trained at medieval times to become knights, the role of squire is likewise reserved for male performers who are evaluated at the time."

Thank you for taking the time to respond to that question. I appreciate you explaining your position. I’d like to tell you why you're wrong on the reasoning you provided.

You mentioned preserving the “authenticity and genuineness” of the scripted role of knights in your theatrical production. But as you noted, it IS a theatrical production. A scripted role. That means creative decisions are made intentionally. If the script can be written, it can also be rewritten. Choosing to include women as knights wouldn’t break authenticity. It would reflect a conscious artistic choice, a modern one that hundreds of thousands of people are asking for, just like every other element of the show.

Additionally, while historical inspiration is clearly part of the theme, the experience at Medieval Times is not a museum reenactment. The show includes modern theatrical elements, amplified sound, choreographed staging, themed merchandise, and of course, how can we forget the frozen light-up margaritas. I’m fairly certain those were not part of the medieval era either. However, I do ask you do not remove those due to "authenticity". They don't diminish the experience, they enhance it. In the same way, including women in knight roles would not detract from the show, but it would expand it. Think of all the new storylines that could be written!

Personally, I am not attending Medieval Times for strict historical authenticity. I go for the spectacle, fun, and the storytelling. Also, for the soup. Your soup is fantastic. Expanding casting to include women would align with that spirit of entertainment and inclusivity. It would also allow you to have a wider pool of cast members to choose from when you hire. More choices are always better financially.

History itself is also more complex than the simplified version we sometimes present. Figures like Joan of Arc demonstrate that women did play military and leadership roles in the medieval period. While she may not have been a tournament knight in armor as portrayed in your show, her existence challenges the idea that women and knighthood-adjacent roles are incompatible with medieval storytelling.

Ultimately, including women as knights would not erase history. It would broaden representation in a modern theatrical production. It would also allow young girls in the audience to see themselves in the most heroic role on stage, rather than only in supporting roles. That kind of change would likely strengthen your brand and expand your audience rather than diminish it.

I hope you will reconsider this policy moving forward.

Sincerely,