After starting more than 20 minutes late due to technical difficulties and with a coach-full of restless teenagers in the audience chaperoned by exasperated teachers, I feared this wasn’t going to be a good night. I was wrong.

Restaged for the third time and revived here at Oxford Playhouse this week before it tours the UK, Andrew Bovell’s Things I Know To Be True dissects the Price family, the marriage of Bob and Fran, and the generational tensions that occur when their four grown children, Mark (Matthew Baker), Pip (Seline Hizli), Rosie (Kirsty Oswald) and Ben (Arthur Wilson) bear the weight of their parents' expectations while trying to lead their own authentic lives.

Taking place over a year, in the charming Price garden and kitchen, the family evolves in an emotional labyrinth from the series of shocking confessions that occur. With the cast all being consummate actors of stage and screen (particularly Brookside and Emmerdale star John McArdle as Bob and Cate Hamer as Fran) this stunning story was in good hands.

Toned perfectly, Bovell’s touching words were given the performance they deserved by every cast member.

It's a play in which I suspect each of the audience could find a character they could relate to – from young Rosie’s musings on when life will start, to Bob at 63 wondering if life has passed him by.

We see real twinkling tears run down Rosie’s cheeks, are genuinely startled when Bob finally loses his cool and are absorbed by every other character's stirring tale, as they are torn between feelings of responsibility and desire.

Despite the technical failings before they could start, this was a triumph.

The set was picturesque, the lighting, visual effects and soundtrack impressive and the performances phenomenal – enhanced by the flowing choreography that envelops each actor in an intricate dance.

We were treated to an after-show talk including directors Geordie Brookman and Scott Graham, and learning of the process behind the piece, I’m further impressed.

One thing I know to be true is that this is an achingly beautiful play. You’d be a fool to miss it.

Naomi Lanighan 5/5