From Bloombsbury to Whitehall: new play reimagines life of John Maynard Keynes
Summary
A new play called The Standard of Living, opening in September, tells the life story of John Maynard Keynes, a key economist of the 20th century. The play covers his work from 1917 to 1946, showing how he changed ideas about government, money, and the arts, as well as his personal life and relationships.Key Facts
- John Maynard Keynes was born in 1883 and studied math before becoming an economist.
- He created ideas to help governments stop economic problems like unemployment during crises such as the Great Depression.
- Keynes believed that governments should spend money during bad economic times to help people, instead of waiting for the market to fix itself.
- He was part of the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of writers and artists, and had personal relationships with figures like Virginia Woolf and painter Duncan Grant.
- Keynes was bisexual and surprised many by marrying ballerina Lydia Lopokova in 1925.
- His book, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, remains very influential in economics.
- Keynes’s economic ideas helped create a period of economic growth in Britain after World War II and influenced US policies like the New Deal.
- The play is directed by Nicholas Hytner, with Rory Kinnear playing Keynes and Natalia Osipova playing Lydia Lopokova.
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