There was an unfair weight of expectation bearing down on Othello’s shoulders on Monday night, largely because the actor playing him, Victor Oshin, was making his stage debut.

Cast straight from drama school, it is a massive part, and with the production marking the start of the theatre’s 80th birthday celebrations, the pressure was on.

The dichotomy of Othello for me has always been his apparently incongruous switch from a measured, empathetic and decent young leader to a self-motivated, egotistical and tyrannical monster, without scarcely drawing breath.

This is more down to Shakespeare’s scripting than anything English Touring Theatre’s keen cast had to deliver. But with a running time of three hours, the modern pared down staged production needed to keep its audience entranced.

This it did, providing the perfect introduction for much of its audience to the Moorish play and its relevant examples of racism, domestic violence and attitudes to women.

It was also a delight to witness such a predominantly young cast. Director Richard Twyman and designer Georgia Lowe take up the Shakespearian mantle and run lithely with it, without even pausing for breath.

Such pace did result in the loss of some of the necessary articulation and volume. However, the laddish wedding scenes, singing and dancing on the tables are all in sync with the modern styling, and are refreshingly fitting.

Kitty Archer was a joy as Desdemona, but needed to speak up. Her fun, sweet depiction of Othello’s new bride left no one in doubt of her innocence and devotion.

Indeed Othello and Desdemona’s early scenes were full of the kind of effortless love only managed by newly weds.

Shuffling, alcoholic Iago played by Paul McEwan wore us down with his obsequious and relentless battering of Othello’s faith in those most loyal to him as the tragedy began to unfold.

His wife, played by Kelly Price was perfectly pitched.

As for Victor, he too gathered momentum, with his deft and instinctive posturing of a young general in the prime of his life. All of which made the inevitability of this Shakespearean tragedy’s descent into jealousy-fuelled murder, death and betrayal that bit more engaging.

It is an all-round performance that stays with you long after the curtain goes down. And as this was the first night of the tour, it will surely fine tune itself with each performance. A brilliant example of how to make Shakespeare relevant to a new generation. 4/5

* Othello runs at the Oxford Playhouse until Saturday. oxfordplayhouse.com