Playwright left in cloak (5)
I believe the answer is:
shawl
'cloak' is the definition.
(I know that shawl is a type of cloak)
'playwright left' is the wordplay.
'playwright' becomes 'shaw' (George Bernard Shaw).
'left' becomes 'L' (common abbreviation).
'shaw'+'l'='SHAWL'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for shawl that I've seen before include "Neck warmer" , "Cover for head and shoulders" , "Baby's wrap" , "Woman assumes this" , "Cloth wrapped over one's shoulders" .)