A milling mass of Oxford freshers out on the lash packed the pavements around the OFS Studio on Tuesday night. Inside the theatre, meanwhile, a full house was gripped by Alan Bennett’s compelling 2004 play focusing on eight young men making their bid for the privileges that an Oxbridge education can bring.

Already judged a classic, the play, at once serious and very funny, has not previously been seen in Oxford. It is therefore pleasing to be offered a debut production, from the amateurs of Oxford Triptych Theatre, that so clearly reveals its many merits.

Inevitably, perhaps, it has been modelled by director Meriel Patrick on Nicholas Hytner’s National Theatre original which formed the basis of the well-known film version, with the same cast, that quickly followed. But with so admirable an archetype to imitate this can hardly be a bad thing.

The similarities are strongest in Simon Tavener’s portrayal of the careworn but still committed English and general studies master Hector, clearly much influenced by that of Richard Griffiths, and James Corrigan’s impressive turn as the cocksure class dreamboat Dakin (centre, above), the role that made a star of Dominic Cooper.

While the former’s lubricious gropings remain as improbable in my view as the latter’s tolerant acceptance of them (and, indeed, as the tolerance displayed by the whole class to the gay goings-on around them), it is easy to forgive this fault when so much that is true is presented to us. Noteworthy perfomances include those of Christopher Adams, as the clued-up new master (later telly history pundit) Irwin, Brian Conroy as the blimpish Headmaster, and Rob Hemmens as the droll church-mad pupil Scripps.

But the most affecting work, featuring some fine singing, comes from Joe Harrison, as Posner. He says: “I’m a Jew, I’m homosexual, I’m small, and I live in Sheffield. I’m f****d.” As we later sadly discover, he truly is.

The History Boys continues until Saturday. Box office: 0844 844 0662.