The Standard of Living

The Standard of Living description

Who knew economics could be so fascinating! It's The Standard of Living.

A fresh new play by James Graham (Punch, Dear England, Labour of Love), The Standard of Living is full of dance, debate and music. It also comes with excellent credentials, directed by Sir Nicholas Hytner who famously revitalised the National Theatre and gave us The History Boys and The Madness of King George, One Man, Two Guvnors and Giant. 

The cast includes the Olivier Award-winning Rory Kinnear (Phyllida Lloyd's Mary Stuart, Trevor Nunn's Hamlet) as John Maynard Keynes and the Royal Ballet Principal Natalia Osipova, on her West End debut, playing Keynes' wife Lydia Lopokova. The set design comes from Bob Crowley, another tick in the 'excellent' box. 

Rebellious Keynes was one of the world's most respected economists as well as a member of the Bloomsburys, a group of writers, artists and intellectuals who, in the early 1900s, influenced everything from literature and art to economics and modern social thought. He had a long term romantic connection with artist Duncan Grant, was Virginia Woolf's friend, and was determined to live life his own way.

The play asks whether we can put a price on beauty, happiness and love. Premiering at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, a remarkable story unfolds as Keynes takes his ideas to Whitehall, the financial markets crash, the old way of doing things falls apart and the country balances on the edge of chaos. Funny, moving and exciting, it's full of vibrant life. 

Buy The Standard of Living tickets to meet a fascinating human being whose theories challenged the status quo and changed the world.

Starring:

Rory Kinnear, Natalia Osipova

Playing at Theatre Royal Haymarket

8 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HT GB (venue info)

Directions