Hatch, Match and Dispatch

Synopsis

A series of inter-linked plays exploring birth, marriage and death through the prism of a Welsh Register OfficeIsn't it strange that the registering of life's most important moments happens in a sterile municipal office? Everyone's got a story to tell about how they got there. Listen for the first time to this spectacular collection of six funny, quirky and moving plays that start in a Register Office and end in a birth, marriage or death.In Uncle Harry, Mark’s life is nicely well-ordered until a passing comment from Uncle Harry sends him on a quest to discover his true identity. This is a comedy about grief and the true meaning of family.Losing my Penny is a story of love, secrets and family. Leo is in love with Penny and plans to marry her but Penny's possessive father has other ideas. Leo has secrets of his own which threatens to ruin everything.Teddy is on his stag night in the comedy Time and Tide. He wakes up naked and handcuffed to a lamp post. So far, so normal. But then he realises that something very weird has occurred which makes him question everything…A Certain Date is a surreal and darkly comic exploration of the meaning of death. Geoff Levine, aka the Slim Reaper, is a pest control technician. All day long he kills rats and other vermin but when he meets Mystic June, she tells him something that will alter the rest of his life – what's left of it anyway.An unexpected family secret is unearthed in Nine Lives, when Beth's elderly father Patrick claims never to have been born because he's lived forever. As Beth tries to untangle the truth of her father's birth, she uncovers more than she bargained for.Lastly, Elephants all the Way tells the story of Harper, who works in a zoo. He is a simple soul but his life is complicated. His wife is desperate for a baby, and his angry dad is a bare knuckle boxer. Then the ground starts to shift - literally…Engaging, funny and thought provoking, these six plays were recorded by BBC Wales. This brilliant series of modern dramas showcase some of Wales’s best acting talent. Download all six plays now for a mesmerising listen.Episode 1 - Uncle HarryWritten by Gary BrownDirected by Helen PerryMark - Dylan EdwardsUncle Harry - Ewan BaileyElaine - Denise BlackHelen - Katherine JakewaysLionel - Christian PattersonCharlotte - Rachel RedfordDad - David CannEpisode 2 - Losing my PennyWritten by Leah ChilleryDirected by Gary BrownLeo - Don GiletPenny - Verity May HenryRita - Kathryn HuntHenry - Conrad NelsonDuchess - Tupele DorguBartholomew - Fiona ClarkeEpisode 3 - Time and Tide Written by David HodgsonDirected by Gary BrownOld Man - Will TaceyTeddy - Alan MorrisseyLawrence - Will AshMegan - Hannah WoodBrankin - Sean MasonJess - Harriet Chandler JuddShaffy - Hamilton BerstockEpisode 4 - A Certain DateWritten by Alan HarrisDirected by Helen PerryGeoff - Julian Lewis JonesValmai - Sara McGaugheySandy - Katy OwenMystic June - Lisa PalfreyDoctor Ramis - Richard MitchleyPigeon - Sion PritchardKing Rat - Michael BertenshawEpisode 5 – Nine Lives Written by Anna Maria MurphyDirected by James RobinsonBeth - Eiry ThomasPatrick - Peter MarinkerBill - Christian PattersonMrs Knowles - Sharon MorganMiriam/Janet - Eirlys BellinReg/Harold - Matthew GravelleEpisode 6 – Elephants All the Way Up Written by Lavinia MurrayDirected by Gary BrownHarper - Graeme HawleyYolanda - Kate CooganDad - Seamus O'NeillCarlos - Chris JackArlo/Turtle - Lloyd PetersGrayson/Turtle -Malcolm RaeburnWoman/Turtle - Lisa Allen©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd