In playing this Shakespearean character, one needs to take a bow (5)
I believe the answer is:
viola
This could be a double definition.
'in playing this shakespearean character one needs' is the first definition.
'viola' can be an answer for 'shakespearean character' (I've seen this in another clue). I am not certain of the remainder of the definition.
'a bow' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'to take' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for viola that I've seen before include "Plant; instrument" , "Bowed string instrument" , "Large violin" , "Shakespearean character" , "Instrument slightly larger than violin and of lower pitch" .)