Religious leader occupying tower before a melodramatic performance (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
soap opera
'melodramatic performance' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'religious leader occupying tower before a' is the wordplay.
'religious leader' becomes 'pope' (I've seen this in another clue).
'occupying' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters occupy or enter the word).
'tower' becomes 'soar' (I've seen this in another clue).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'pope' put into 'soar' is 'soapoper'.
'soapoper'+'a'='SOAP-OPERA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for soap opera that I've seen before include "TV serial such as Coronation Street" , "Regularly broadcast series" , "addictive programme?" , "Everyday drama serial" , "that might involve The Woolpack?" .)