Performing animal sheltered by one (2,5)
I believe the answer is:
on stage
'performing' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'animal sheltered by one' is the wordplay.
'animal' becomes 'stag' (I've seen this before).
'sheltered by' is an insertion indicator.
'stag' placed into 'one' is 'ON-STAGE'.
(Other definitions for on stage that I've seen before include "Treading the boards" , "in front of a audience" , "playing a part?" , "Acting" , "like passengers in Wild West" .)