A THIRTYSOMETHING male teacher has an affair with a 15-year-old schoolgirl, and there's a national uproar.

But when the victim is a teenage boy, at the hands of a female teacher, there's a mixed response.

Johnny McKnight, one of Scotland's most daring playwrights, explores this conundrum in his new dark comedy A Perfect Stroke, running at Oran Mor this week.

It tells the story of schoolboy Thomas, played by talented young actor Scott Reid, and his relationship with drama teacher Miss Stone (Anita Vitesse) who takes on the role of Juliet to his Romeo.

The pair however actually play at being cat and mouse, and Thomas is eventually seduced by his teacher. Or is he?

"It's an exploration of power," says 20-year-old Scott, smiling. "You are trying to work out who is the aggressor and who is the victim because as we know, seducing an older woman is often seen as a rite of passage for teenage boys.

"It's seen as a man's transition to becoming an alpha male if he can have an affair with a powerful, older woman."

Physiology, the actor maintains, also throws up an interesting irony.

"Young men are said to be at their sexual peak from 16 to 22," says Scott. "And women are at theirs from their 30s, til the run up to menopause."

It suggests the notion that Mrs Robinson relationships are hormone driven, that there is almost a physical imperative. Yet what of the emotional impact on both of them? Who is most affected by the outcome?

"That's the question Johnny poses," says Scott.

Former Paisley Grammar pupil Scott appreciates the interest schoolboys have in older women.

"There were certainly teachers I used to fancy, such as my young History teacher, who was just adorable. But I was too young to be flirty I guess, having left before sixth year to go to drama school.

"But while there, I connected with older females, especially older actresses."

He adds, reflectively: "I've had experience with older women. And as a young man you do think it's part of the process of exploration. It's about seeing what the world has to offer."

The connection between teacher/pupil has been examined over the years in films such as To Sir With Love and in television, from drama Waterloo Road to comedies such as Please, Sir! and more recently the very funny Bad Education.

Despite the consequences, and the likelihood of affairs being revealed, pupil-teacher affairs still take place.

"Yes, the papers are full of them. Something like 8000 incidents have been recorded in the past 10 years. So there could have been more.

"You can only imagine the number of cases which took place 20 or 30 years ago before the relationships were revealed, before texting and email."

A major part of the success of this week's play, which also stars Dani Herron, depends upon the performances of Scott and Anita.

Interestingly, Scott worked alongside Anita in his most recent play, Paddy Cuneen's Fleeto.

"In Fleeto, Anita played a mother figure to me," he says, grinning. "And now she's a sexual aggressor out to seduce me. That's the delight of theatre. But it's been fascinating twisting the relationship around and now we are having to reveal a new vulnerability.

"What's easy however is Anita is such a fantastic actress. She's so open and we get on really well. And we can trust each so that means on stage we can take risks."

Scott is a man who thrives on acting risks.

AS A teenager the promising footballer had trials with St Mirren before deciding he was a better actor than footballer.

He landed an agent after staging his own one-man show in London. And still a drama student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he starred at the Citz in The Maids - as a sadomasochistic housemaid, who murders her boss and her daughter.

Now, he's playing a schoolboy who gets to live out his fantasies - or does he?

"What I can say is it will be hot and steamy in places," says Scott, grinning.

"The audience will certainly find themselves hot under the collar. And this play will make them think, because Johnny McKnight really does create provocative theatre."

l A Play A Pie and A Pint: A Perfect Stroke Mon-Sat 1pm. Oran Mor, Byres Road, 08444 771 000. £8 - £12.50.