This is London November 2026 - Flipbook - Page 26
26
Rory Kinnear.
Photos: Manuel Harlan
THE STANDARD OF LIVING
Theatre Royal Haymarket
The world premiere of The Standard
of Living at Theatre Royal Haymarket is a
sharp, invigorating, witty piece. Directed
by Nicholas Hytner, this striking new
play by James Graham tells the story of
one of the twentieth century’s greatest
thinkers, John Maynard Keynes who, in
daring to imagine a different type of
future, helped reshape our world.
As a teacher of A-Level Economics,
the play left me genuinely inspired to
communicate the importance of the
subject – and Keynes’s role in it – to my
students. The narrative weaves together
the idea of a good life – a life with
purpose – with the importance of
making a wider contribution and having
the drive of ambition.
Olivier Award winner Rory Kinnear
stars as Keynes, member of the
influential Bloomsbury Group who
became the singular driving force behind
arts funding in Britain and built a new
and fairer financial model that,
ultimately, reshaped the Western World
in the aftermath of the First World War.
Royal Ballet Principal Natalia Osipova
makes her West End debut as the
celebrated ballet dancer Lydia Lopokova,
a soloist with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes
who was considered the embodiment of
the new era of modernist ballet.
The play’s economics debates are
accessible and offer reflections on
national productivity, value, and what it
means to work towards a shared national
purpose.
I found it thought-provoking and the
production made me leave feeling even
more motivated about living to a purpose
and encouraging students to do so, too.
The mix of drama and dance was
eye-catching. A thoroughly rewarding
evening.
David Whittall, Waingels School
Inspired by Keynes' passion for art and
access to art for all, the producers have
released £25 ‘Keynes Tickets’ in the stalls
and dress circle for people under 30 to
ensure that new writing is available to the
widest possible audience.
Rory Kinnear, Natalia Osipova and Luke Cinque White in The Standard of Living.
RIVERSIDE STUDIOS 50th
ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Opened in 1976, Riverside Studios in
Hammersmith has built a reputation for
excellence and innovation across
theatre, dance, visual art, television,
comedy and music. The 50th
anniversary season takes inspiration
from the past in the form of special
performances and creative partnerships,
while welcoming back some of the key
figures who have helped shape the
iconic venue’s rich history.In a
scandalous twist on the classic fairy tale.
Cinderella arrives at Riverside
Studios from 10 – 30 December.
Tinderella is a whizz on social media, a
real influencer, but it's all a charade
because poor Tinders has no money, no
man and none of the glamorous life she
claims to be living. Until one day, she
meets not one, but two Princes in the
woods. Expect raucous laughter,
innuendos, cheesy anthems and
audience participation.
A young man from Wythenshawe has
been sent on a ten week therapy via
poetry course to work through
something he would much rather leave
alone in Act of God (9 – 26 November).
This debut play from Manchester writer
Jacob O’Connor explores masculinity,
class and what happens when a man
who can talk his way out of almost
anything suddenly can’t.
Are You Even Indian (17 – 29 Nov)
follows a British-born Indian woman and
an Indian-born man who fall in love. It
feels like fate: a meet-cute, wedding
dances, Bollywood jokes and plans for a
future they believe they are building.
Following a sold-out debut
performance at The Union Theatre, In
My Own Little World (19 – 29
November) makes its world premiere at
Riverside Studios. This deeply personal
and poetic one-woman show centres on
Jada, a young trans woman navigating
the early stages of transitioning,
exploring identity, love, resilience,
community and the courage it takes to
step into your power.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
