All's Wells that mends Wells.
In 1929, H G Wells published The King Who Was King. It was conceived as a film but found no backers to produce so he released it as a book that the public did not embrace in quite the same way they had War of the Worlds or The Time Machine.
A decade after the cessation of the Great War and the eve of the Great Depression, Wells fantasised about the end of war, a consummation to be devoutly wished for.
Truth is, though, humans are devoted to conflict. How can there be peace on Earth when there was war in Heaven, the “king” of whom expelled his favourite. And didn't God exile Adam and Eve from Eden creating the first refugees? Made in His likeness, angels and humans are war mongers.
Schism in the scheme of things, Jew or Gentile, Muslim or Pagan, the ancients even had a god of War, a deity of death and destruction. And the planet named after the god of War is the entity of enmity in HG Wells, War of the Worlds.
“A day will come when this warring world of ours will become inconceivable to the imaginations of men. And I have the solution to make that so!” declares H G Wells at the beginning of the play. Ah, wishful thinking.
The King Who Was King concerns three countries, the Kingdom of Clavery, the Republic of Agravia and Saevia, bordering nations with different international allegiances. The region has large deposits of calcomite, a rare mineral. The Agravians are a nation of farmers. They do not want their minerals exploited. The British support them in that attitude. Sævia is too weak to attack Agravia, but with Clavery to help, it would be a different story.
The King Who Was King examines nationalism, patriotism, tribalism, alliances, expansionism, greed and economic exploitation. And the lure of power.
Adapted and directed by Ayah Tayeh, the production is concise and precise.
Marco Chiappi as Wells leads an impressive young cast comprising Harry Stacey, Brittany Santariga, Violette Ayad, Meg Hyeronimus, Toby Carey and Braeden Caddy.
Bronte Hunt’s set design of a chalk map showing the territorial boundaries of the three countries involved is not only aesthetically artful but helps keep the audience attuned to the territorial aspect of the narrative.
Orwell that ends Wells? Dystopia trumps utopia? A world without wars? We can but dream.
Event details
Irregular Programming presents
The King Who Was King
adapted by Ayah Tayeh | based on the novel by H G Wells
Director Ayah Tayeh
Venue: Downstairs Theatre | 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills NSW
Dates: 1 – 22 November 2026
Bookings: belvoir.com.au
