Left-wing thespian and editor (8)
I believe the answer is:
redactor
'editor' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'left-wing thespian' is the wordplay.
'left wing' becomes 'red' (I've seen this in other clues).
'thespian' becomes 'actor' ('actor' can be a synonym of 'thespian').
'red'+'actor'='REDACTOR'
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for redactor that I've seen before include "someone to supervise church magazine?" , "Editor" , "literary organiser" , "One needs to make some changes" .)