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
Ticket Info
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 .on 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.
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
Gallery
Reviews
Susanna Greenwood – Scene One
Writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran are best known for their celebrated television comedies, including Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart. In Von Ribbentrop’s Watch, however, they turn to domestic drama, inspired by Marks’ own experience of buying a vintage watch and subsequently discovering it once belonged to convicted Nazi war criminal Joachim Von Ribbentrop – Foreign Minister of Nazi Germany who was executed following the Nuremberg Trials.
In this reimagining, we meet Gerald Roth, patriarch of a Jewish family in Middlesex. A struggling wine merchant, he sends his inherited watch for repair and what begins as a routine task becomes a profound moral dilemma. Gerald learns of its dark origins which make it a valuable albeit tainted heirloom. We follow his journey through the implications of his discovery, his initial outrage and disgust; does ownership of such an article make him complicit in the previous owner’s actions? Gerald’s internal struggle grows as he faces financial pressures and we see how it affects his relationships with those closest to him as they unravel the secrets of the watch.
This is a challenging piece in many ways, its dialogue-driven within a simple domestic setting and therefore wholly reliant on the characterisation of the family members. The set, beautifully crafted, reflects the home of Gerald and wife Ruth as they celebrate Passover with other family members.
Stuart Glossop plays Gerald with authenticity and energy. His physical humour makes him instantly relatable and consistently engaging. Most compelling, is his gradual shift from principled patriarch to morally adrift opportunist, tentatively capitalising on an unexpected windfall.
Molly Jackson as Gerald’s wife Ruth, complements Glossop with charm and wit. Her frequent asides, often sarcastic retorts to her unforgiving mother-in-law – Lila Roth, provide light relief. At times, she is rather too compelling while performing her domestic duties whilst the action happens elsewhere on the split stage. Although her portrayal of domestic routines feels natural and lived-in, further emphasising the contrast between ordinary family life and the weight of historical revelation. There are moments, however, particularly in the second act, when Ruth’s reaction to Gerald’s deceit could have been more emotionally charged as these sometimes felt a little too controlled.
Judy Garrett excels as Lila Roth, Gerald’s domineering mother. Like Gerald she is thrust on an emotional journey as the plot reveals more twists and turns and we see her transcend from the domineering and fiendish matriarch, reduced to a submissive and apologetic passenger. Garrett delivers a very strong performance and is strangely likeable even in her meanest moments. She has a recognisable relationship with her granddaughter, Sasha, played with conviction and sincerity by Sali Pike.
David Roth, Gerald’s brother, appears the more solid, down-to-earth and pragmatic of the brothers. Andy Gill does a good job at highlighting the younger brother’s emotional turmoil, recently bereaved following the death of his wife, and his growing resentment at feeling overlooked by his father. The growing rift between the brothers is played well culminating in a physical fight that is believable in its clumsiness.
Supporting roles of Mr Blackburn and The Collector are played convincingly by Michael Mackey and Sam Moulton, respectively.
There are occasional dips in pace, with some slow cues, and scenes involving subplots such as Sasha’s romance, feel a little drawn out. However, these are minor issues in what is otherwise a thought-provoking tale, brought to life credibly by Wimborne Drama Productions.
Marilyn Barber – Dorset View
It takes a creative mind to realise that a chance discovery could be reworked to become a full-length play. But this is what Laurence Marks — who, together with Maurice Gran, wrote TV’s ‘Birds of a Feather’ and ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ — did when he discovered that his pre-war watch had once belonged to Joachim von Ribbentrop, Hitler’s foreign minister.
The play, written by Marks and Gran, takes place in 2008 in the family home of Jewish wine merchant Gerald Roth and his wife Ruth, who are celebrating Passover with their family.Stuart Glossop puts in a huge amount of energy as Gerald, who discovers that the watch, which had been left to him by his father, would sell for a huge amount at auction. The fact that it was once owned by a Nazi isn’t lost on him.Molly Jackson completely captures the essence of Ruth, who had converted to the Jewish faith, and she has a spirited ding-dong not only with her husband but also with her mother-in-law Lila.
Judy Garrett encapsulates the Jewish mother from hell with her fixed ideas and constant put-downs of Ruth and just about anyone who doesn’t fit in with her ideals. Gerald’s brother David, a widowed taxi driver, played by Andy Gill, adds even more pathos to the action as he tries to keep everyone happy — not an easy task. Sali Pike is an actress with a very expressive face and manner, and she perfects the role of David’s daughter, who drops a bombshell on the evening. Finally, Michael Mackey as the watch repairer Mr Blackburn, who discovered the timepiece’s provenance, and Sam Moulton as the collector both put in convincing performances.
The story has surprises and a little humour. It is an interesting weave of history and tradition.
Congratulations to the creative team, who once again produced an excellent set.
Programme
