On the left is an image of three people, one wearing a beige suit, another a black suit and the last a white dress. On the right it reads 'The Standard Of Living'
The Standard Of Living Trailer

The Standard Of Living
Tickets From £28

Venue

Haymarket, Theatre Royal

Can you put a price on happiness, beauty and love? 

A brand new world-premiere play from the Olivier Award-winning playwright, James Graham (Punch, Dear England, Labour Of Love) explodes into the West End for a strictly limited 12-week run. 

Directed by multi award-winner Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys, One Man, Two Guvnors, Giant) and starring Olivier Award winner Rory Kinnear (Skyfall, The Diplomat) and Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova in her West End debut, this blazing new play tells the astonishing story of rebel economist and member of the Bloomsbury Group, John Maynard Keynes. 

Husband to ballerina Lydia Lopokova. Lover to Duncan Grant. Friend to Virginia Woolf. Keynes moves between the corridors of power in Whitehall and the intoxicating freedom of a radical circle of artists, writers and lovers – all determined to live differently.  

But as markets crash, old systems crumble and Britain teeters on the edge of chaos, one question begins to consume him: 

What is a good life?  

Alive with music, dance, desire and debate, The Standard Of Living is a thrilling, funny and deeply moving portrait of a man who dared to imagine something better.  

Closing

12/12/2026

Running Time

2h30, inc interval

Genre

Drama, Plays

Age & Content

12+ | Children under 5 years of age will not be admitted to the theatre. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. In the interest of other patrons, parents with children are reminded they may be asked to remove any consistently noisy children.

Please Note:
  • Natalia Osipova is not scheduled to appear at the following performances: 16 Oct – evening, 21 Oct– evening, 22 Oct – matinee & evening, 26 Oct – evening, 4 Nov – evening & 5 Nov – matinee & evening

Cast:

Rory Kinnear as

John Maynard Keynes

Natalia Osipova as

Lydia Lopokova

Thomas Flynn as

Duncan Grant

Laurie Kynaston as

Friedrich Hayek

Pip Carter as

Lytton Strachey

Agatha Enecio as

Dora Carrington

Naomi Frederick as

Virginia Woolf

Claire Price as

Vanessa Bell

George Taylor as

William Beveridge

Christopher Akrill, Luke Cinque-White Dannie Norman, Xolisweh Ana Richards & Ben Warwick as

Ensemble

Creative:

Writer -

James Graham

Director -

Nicholas Hytner

Set Designer -

Bob Crowley

Costume Designer -

Jenny Beavan

Movement Director -

James Cousins

Composer -

Frank Moon

Ballet Consultant -

Edward Watson

Lighting Designer -

Bruno Poet

Sound Designer -

Carolyn Downing

Projection Designer -

Luke Halls

Casting Director -

Robert Sterne CDG

Props Supervisor -

Lily Mollgaard

Costume Supervisor -

Poppy Halls

Vocal Coach -

Jeanette Nelson

Assistant Director -

Anastasia Bunce

Book The Standard Of Living Tickets

No accessibility performances are currently scheduled for this show.

Frequently asked questions

The Standard Of Living is playing at Haymarket, Theatre Royal in London. Your ticket selection will show available performance dates and times, and you can book securely online via Official London Theatre. For the smoothest experience, pick a performance from the calendar and book early for popular dates.
The Standard Of Living is a thrilling, funny and deeply moving portrait of a man who dared to imagine something better.
The running time for The Standard Of Living is 2h30, inc interval. Duration can occasionally vary slightly by performance, but this is the listed length for the production.
The Standard Of Living is recommended for ages 12+ | Children under 5 years of age will not be admitted to the theatre. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. In the interest of other patrons, parents with children are reminded they may be asked to remove any consistently noisy children.. If you’re bringing younger theatregoers, it’s worth considering themes and attention span alongside the age guidance. Some venues also have their own admission policies, so it can help to double-check requirements before you travel.
You can buy tickets for The Standard Of Living online through Official London Theatre. Choose your preferred performance in the calendar, select seats if available, and complete your purchase securely.
The Standard Of Living features a cast including Rory Kinnear (John Maynard Keynes), Natalia Osipova (Lydia Lopokova), Thomas Flynn (Duncan Grant), Laurie Kynaston (Friedrich Hayek), Pip Carter (Lytton Strachey), Agatha Enecio (Dora Carrington), Naomi Frederick (Virginia Woolf), Claire Price (Vanessa Bell), George Taylor (William Beveridge), Christopher Akrill, Luke Cinque-White Dannie Norman, Xolisweh Ana Richards & Ben Warwick (Ensemble). Casting can vary by date, so if you’re booking specifically to see a particular performer, it’s worth checking any casting notes for your chosen performance.
The Standard Of Living is written by James Graham and this production is directed by Nicholas Hytner. The creative team shapes the tone, pacing and staging style, so if you’re choosing shows based on writers or directors you love, these credits can help you decide whether The Standard Of Living is the right pick.
There isn’t a strict dress code for London theatre, so wear whatever you’ll feel comfortable and confident in. Most people go for smart casual - think jeans or trousers with a nice top, a casual dress, or a shirt and trainers. If you’re heading to an evening show, on a date, or celebrating something, you might fancy dressing up a bit more, but it’s completely optional.
Arriving at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time helps keep things smooth and stress-free, giving you plenty of time to collect tickets, go through security, and get settled in your seat before the performance begins.
Book Tickets from £28