Number of performances I caught, featuring ancient characters (5)
I believe the answer is:
runic
'featuring ancient characters' is the definition.
(using runes)
'number of performances i caught' is the wordplay.
'number of performances' becomes 'run' (as in a theatrical run).
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'run'+'i'+'c'='RUNIC'
(Other definitions for runic that I've seen before include "Inscribed with ancient symbols" , "In a Norse alphabet" , "Like mysterious characters" , "Pertaining to an ancient Germanic alphabet" , "Of old magic symbols" .)