Photography by Manuel Harlan

Those with an interest in politics will likely be familiar with the name John Maynard Keynes – a hugely influential economist in the first half of the 20th century, his work had a massive impact on British politics, particularly around the time of the Second World War. His personal life is perhaps less well-known: he was a member of the Bloomsbury Group, an influential collection of writers, artists and thinkers, including Virgina Woolf and E. M. Forster, who advocated for a more tolerant and progressive society, with modern views on issues including feminism and sexuality.

The Standard of Living is a new political play from British playwright James Graham – we’ve seen many of his shows before, often state-of-the-nation addresses examining contemporary life and issues in the UK. This one, as a history play, is a bit different (although his school of thought, Keynesian economics, continues to be debated today). The show focuses on his professional work but is interspersed with scenes from his personal life, including snapshots of his relationships with other Bloomsbury Group members including Duncan Grant and Lytton Strachey.

For a show focused on politics and economic policy, we weren’t expecting it to be so queer, or so amusing. Yes, some of this subject matter is rather dry, but Graham has a way of conveying complicated ideas in a straightforward way, and there are plenty of amusing gags and witty lines throughout. Rory Kinnear – of course a renowned stage actor, but also well-known for his TV work and appearances in recent James Bond films – is magnetic as Keynes, bringing plenty of charm and wit to proceedings.