The performer tears it in pieces (7)
I believe the answer is:
artiste
'the performer' is the definition.
(artiste is a kind of performer)
'tears it in pieces' is the wordplay.
'in pieces' is an anagram indicator.
'tears'+'it'='tearsit'
'tearsit' is an anagram of 'ARTISTE'.
(Other definitions for artiste that I've seen before include "Attires like entertainer" , "Professional performer" , "Theatre performer" , "Attires for professional entertainer" , "Tears it (anag.)" .)