Rehearsal images have been released for the world premiere of James Graham’s new play The Standard of Living, ahead of its West End run at Theatre Royal Haymarket this autumn.
Written by three-time Olivier Award winner James Graham and directed by Nicholas Hytner, the production tells the story of influential economist John Maynard Keynes and explores the ideas, relationships and cultural movements that helped shape the modern world.
Olivier Award winner Rory Kinnear stars as Keynes, while Royal Ballet Principal Natalia Osipova makes her West End debut as celebrated dancer Lydia Lopokova, Keynes’ wife and a leading figure in the modernist ballet movement.
Joining them in the cast are Thomas Flynn as Duncan Grant, Laurie Kynaston as Friedrich Hayek, Alex Blake as Clive Bell, Pip Carter as Lytton Strachey, Agatha Enecio as Dora Carrington, Naomi Frederick as Virginia Woolf, Claire Price as Vanessa Bell and George Taylor as William Beveridge.
The company is completed by Christopher Akrill, Luke Cinque-White, Dannie Norman, Xolisweh Ana Richards and Ben Warwick.
The production will run for a strictly limited 12-week season from 21 September to 12 December 2026, with opening night scheduled for 29 September.
Inspired by Keynes’ belief in widening access to culture, producers have released 2,000 “Keynes Tickets”, offering £25 seats in the stalls and dress circle for theatregoers aged 16 to 30. These are in addition to thousands of £25 tickets available throughout the run.
The Standard of Living explores Keynes’ life among the artists, writers and thinkers of the Bloomsbury Group as he navigates personal relationships, political influence and economic upheaval during the twentieth century.
The production features set design by Bob Crowley, costume design by Jenny Beavan, movement direction by James Cousins and music by Frank Moon. The creative team also includes Edward Watson, Bruno Poet, Carolyn Downing, Luke Halls and Robert Sterne CDG.
Produced in the West End by Brian & Dayna Lee and Nicholas Hytner, the play marks the latest collaboration between Graham and Hytner following their acclaimed work on British political and social themes.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
