A Trump for Jericho

by Robert Kemp

Robert Kemp described A Trump for Jericho, which was first performed by the Scottish National Players in 1947, as 'a comedy of intransigence'. Set in the New Town of Edinburgh at the time of the Disruption in 1843, the action takes place in the flat of two sisters who find themselves on opposite sides of the religious divide. After many arguments they resolve not to speak to each other again - and reinforce their intention with a line drawn down the middle of the carpet. But a succession of visitors, including a long-lost cousin who has been distilling rum in Jamaica, soon put a strain on this decision.

(4 men, 3 women)

60 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

About the author

Robert Kemp (1908 - 1967) was a Scottish journalist and playwright. He was the father of the journalist Arnold Kemp. Along with Tom Fleming and Lennox Milne, he was a founder of the Edinburgh Gateway Company (1953 - 1965).

He was born at Longhope in Orkney and educated at Robert Gordon's College and the University of Aberdeen.

Before turning to drama, he trained as a journalist with the Manchester Guardian. From the time he adapted Molière's L'Ecole des Femmes for the Scottish stage in 1947 he sought to promote a distinctly national drama, often employing Scots dialogue. In 1948, working with Tyrone Guthrie, he staged a revival of Scotland's first Scottish play, David Lyndsay's Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis and, also in 1948, he coined the phrase “Edinburgh Festival Fringe”.