OLEANNA has a simple scenario. John holds down a comfortable academic post in a higher education establishment and is engaged in what appears to be a routine tutoring session with Carol, a seemingly innocuous female student.

He acts like he’s done this a million times and is sitting pretty — a recent promotion enabling him to buy a new upmarket house, adding to life’s sweetness.

But Carol is about to upset the apple cart. While she presents initially as a naive, struggling wannabe, a certain defiance in her tone and posture suggests a different agenda. Carol’s weapon is her identity. A female, self-proclaimed socio-economic underling, a beginner in a world of experts and with an unclear sexual proclivity, her life experience is a million miles from John’s.