One bowed when playing lead in Shakespeare (5)
I believe the answer is:
viola
'lead in shakespeare' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'one bowed when playing' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'one' could be 'i' (Roman numeral) and 'i' is found in the answer.
'playing' could be 'v' ('playing' can mean 'versus' in sports) and 'v' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ola' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for viola that I've seen before include "Cesario when in drag" , "Bloomer" , "Shakespearean role" , "that provides music" , "Alto of the violin family" .)