Key facts
- James Graham's new play, "The Standard of Living," will focus on the life of economist John Maynard Keynes.
- The play covers Keynes's life from 1917 until his death in 1946, a period of significant economic and political change.
- Rory Kinnear is cast as Keynes, and Natalia Osipova will play his wife, Russian ballerina Lydia Lopokova.
- Keynes's foundational ideas in macroeconomics, advocating for government intervention to stabilize economies, will be explored.
- The play will also delve into Keynes's personal life and relationships within the influential Bloomsbury Group.
- Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the play is set to open at the Haymarket in September.
Playwright James Graham, known for his works on Rupert Murdoch and Gareth Southgate, is set to debut a new play titled "The Standard of Living" in September at the Haymarket Theatre. The play will focus on the life and work of influential 20th-century economist John Maynard Keynes, from 1917 until his death in 1946.
Rory Kinnear will star as Keynes, with Natalia Osipova portraying his wife, Russian ballerina Lydia Lopokova. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the production aims to explore Keynes's transformation into the founding father of macroeconomics and his impact on government financial policy and the arts.
Graham's narrative will highlight Keynes's argument for government intervention to stabilize economies, particularly during economic downturns like the Great Depression. The play will also delve into Keynes's personal life, including his relationships within the bohemian Bloomsbury Group, which included figures like Virginia Woolf and his partner, painter Duncan Grant.
Hytner noted that Keynes was a "radical" who championed both economic reform and the arts, with his outlook significantly shaped by artists. The play will touch upon the tension between Keynes's involvement in high-level government affairs and his connections to the Bloomsbury circle, many of whom initially disapproved of his state involvement.
Keynes's seminal work, "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money," which addressed mass unemployment, will be a central theme. His ideas are credited with underpinning Britain's economic growth between 1950 and 1973 and influencing Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal in the US. The play also acknowledges Keynes's identity as an out bisexual man and his marriage to Lopokova, addressing past criticisms regarding his personal life.
Graham and Hytner believe Keynes's ideas remain pertinent to contemporary challenges, suggesting his radical approach is needed to address seemingly intractable global problems.