Written By
Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran
This production is by arrangement with Stagescripts Ltd.
Where and When
Thursday 19th – Saturday 21st February 2026
Evenings 7.30pm + Saturday Matinee 2.30pm
Online Ticket £20.35 eve / £18.15 Matinee (includes £1.85/£1 .65 online booking fee)
Box Office Ticket £18.50 eve / £16.50 Matinee
1 in 10 free all performances (available via Box Office only)
The Plot
The protagonist, Gerald Roth, is a struggling wine merchant. To save his bacon he’s started selling assets. His watch is an antique, it’s gold, maybe it’ll pay for a month’s rent on his shop. When Gerald learns the watch once belonged to Von Ribbentrop, he realises he could put into auction and solve all his money problems, as long as his family doesn’t find out, because his jealous brother, overbearing mother, and pious wife would never speak to him again. The problem is that the family have gathered for the annual Passover dinner, and somehow his brother has got his hands on the valuation letter from Sotheby’s.
Preview
The play isn’t true, but the watch is. In 1985, Laurence Marks went window shopping and saw a very elegant Art Deco wristwatch, so treated himself. Two decades later, when the pre-war watch
started losing time, he took it to be repaired. When the jeweller called to ask if the watch was
a family heirloom Laurence confirmed it wasn’t, and the jeweller replied: “In that case
come to the shop. I think there’s something you should see.” Engraved on the inside back
of the watch were the initials JVR above a neat little swastika. JVR could only mean Joachim .
Von Ribbentrop, Hitler’s Foreign Minister. The prior ownership was confirmed by Sotheby’s and
Laurence was told it would fetch a great deal at auction. Laurence was tempted to sell it but told his friend Maurice Gran, who said: “How can you possibly profit from a Nazi watch?” After a long debate, they decided there was only one thing to do: write a play’aboutthis very dilemma. ‘Von Ribbentrop’s Watch’ is that play.
It will be performed by Wimborne Drama Productions at the Tivoli Theatre from 19 to 21 February. To book, telephone 01202 885566 or visit tivoliwimborne.co.uk.
Cast
- Gerald Roth – Stuart Glossop
- Ruth Roth – Molly Jackson
- Mrs Lila Roth – Judy Garrett
- Sasha Roth – Sali Pike
- David Roth – Andy Gill
- Mr Blackburn – Michael Mackey
- The Collector – Sam Moulton
Creative Team
- Director – Paul Senitt
- Stage Manager – Michelle Barter, Suzanne Viney
- Properties ASMs – Dee Hawes, James Turrall, Anthony Cutler, Charlie Cash
- Costume Supervisor – Kira Bradford
- Prompt – Heather Birchenough
- Set Design – Chris Durham
- Sound – Cal Potter
For The Tivoli
- Production Manager – Chandler Whitelock
- Lighting – Josh Brindley