Cadet performed using signs (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
acted out
'performed using signs' is the definition.
'acted out' can be an answer for 'performed'. I am unsure of the 'using signs' bit.
'cadet' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
an anagram of 'cadet' is 'acted' which is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'out' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for acted out that I've seen before include "performed as if on stage?" , "Gesturally expressed" .)