Absurd innovator, one running supermarket with time off (7)
I believe the answer is:
ionesco
'absurd innovator' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'one running supermarket with time off' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'one' could be 'i' (Roman numeral) and 'i' is found in the answer.
'running' could be 'on' (eg when a machine is running it is on) and 'on' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ionesco that I've seen before include "French dramatist, leading figure in the theatre of the absurd, d. 1994" , "Playwright associated with the theatre of the absurd" , "Absurdist playwright" , "Romanian-born French dramatist" , "Eugene -, Romanian-born French playwright" .)