Performs in doubles with not public present (4)
I believe the answer is:
does
'performs in doubles' is the definition.
'does' can be an answer for 'performs' (to do something is to perform or execute it). I'm not certain of the 'in doubles' bit.
'with not public present' is the wordplay.
'with' is an insertion indicator.
'not' becomes 'o' (I've seen this in other clues).
'public present' becomes 'des' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'o' put into 'des' is 'DOES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for does that I've seen before include "female woodlanders" , "Acts" , "Suffices" , "Deer; performs" , "Tricks" .)