Rory Kinnear and Natalia Osipova on the meaning of a good life in James Graham’s The Standard of Living

James Graham’s world premiere play The Standard of Living celebrated its official opening in the West End last night and WhatsOnStage was on hand… living our best lives!

The play explores the life of John Maynard Keynes, the influential economist, member of the Bloomsbury Group and advocate for public arts funding whose ideas helped shape the post-war world. Rory Kinnear, who leads the cast as Keynes, was praised for his “masterful performance” in WhatsOnStage lead critic Sarah Crompton’s review, while Russian ballerina Natalia Osipova, making her West End debut as Keynes’ spouse Lydia Lopokova, was lauded for her “instinctive comic timing and enormous charm”.

We caught up with Kinnear and Osipova prior to the performance to find out more about this latest entry in Graham’s impressive stage catalogue.

You can watch all the highlights below:

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, The Standard of Living continues at Theatre Royal Haymarket until 12 December 2026.

The West End cast also includes Thomas Flynn as Keynes’ friend and lover Duncan Grant, Laurie Kynaston as Keynes’ economic rival Friedrich Hayek, Pip Carter as writer and critic Lytton Strachey, Agatha Enecio as Bloomsbury group artist Dora Carrington, Naomi Frederick as leading writer Virginia Woolf, Claire Price as designer and Woolf’s sister, Vanessa Bell, and George Taylor as economist and father of the Welfare State, William Beveridge.

The ensemble comprises Christopher Akrill, Luke Cinque-White Dannie Norman, Xolisweh Ana Richards and Ben Warwick.

Joining Hytner on the creative team are set designer Bob Crowley and costume designer Jenny Beavan. The movement director is James Cousins, the composer is Frank Moon and the ballet consultant is Edward Watson. The lighting designer is Bruno Poet, the sound designer is Carolyn Downing, the projection designer is Luke Halls, the casting director is Robert Sterne, the props supervisor is Lily Mollgaard, the costume supervisor is Poppy Halls, the vocal coach is Jeanette Nelson and the assistant director is Anastasia Bunce.

Graham has been placing key economists on stage over the last year, with Adam Smith portrayed by Brian Cox in Scotland’s world premiere Make It Happen last summer. Earlier this year, Graham received the special WhatsOnStage Award for Services to UK Theatre.

The Standard of Living is produced by Brian and Dayna Lee, alongside Hytner, following their collaboration on Giant in the West End and on Broadway, with Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment and Ramin Sabi. Mark Rubinstein is executive producer and general management is by Short Street Productions Ltd.