Performer gloomy in cold north (5)
I believe the answer is:
clown
'performer' is the definition.
(I know that Clown is a type of comedian)
'gloomy in cold north' is the wordplay.
'gloomy' becomes 'low' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'cold' becomes 'c' (eg on taps).
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'c'+'n'='cn'
'low' placed within 'cn' is 'CLOWN'.
(Other definitions for clown that I've seen before include "Funny person in circus" , "Buffoon" , "Comic entertainer; fool" , "Chap fooling around" , "Joker" .)