Genius Crossword N0. 257

[Matakari]

Good morning, help would be appreciated for the following, thanks!

31a Premier holding singular period in office- first for dame? (10) : ???T?O????
1d   This thing has a diva? (8) : T?A?????
3d   Workup, so getting problem? (7) : O?O????
17d I.e. apart or lacking a supply? (8) : ?R?T????
18d I passed through turf? (8) : ?????E??
20d Expert over boundless perturbation? (6)  : P?O???

PREAMBLE: Each answer is clued by wordplay only. Two symmetrically opposite answers give the theme of a sketch, and the answer to the question: who performed it?

 

[Neveracrossword]

20 Prongs Pro (a)ngs(t).

17 Pretoria

18 Isolated

 

[Neveracrossword]

3 Opossum

1 D Thatcher

 

As these clues are all 'wordplay only', I'm sure you'll parse them easily enough.

[JJ109]

31 Mastermind

[Matakari]

Many thanks,jj109 and NACW! This final batch should help to finish this one which has not been as Matakari-friendly as this week’s Spectator.

10a Introductory requirements for- along with ermine second House (somewhere in London)? (7) : A?E?O?E  ( ACETONE )
26a You'll find me in unending tranquillity? (5) : ??M?L  ( CAMEL )
15d Leading part of Tshwane; one of the three capitals of Republican African Nation; seat of government; university city? (9) : I?R?N?U??
22d Loaded with shell of tortoise, right? (7) : O???T?R
23d Chance to do shopping, stopped by beginning of Christmas Day? (6) : ?C?L??

[Neveracrossword]

10 Awesome

26 Yes, Me inside Cal(m)

15 Tarantula

[newmodarmy]

camel is okay if the instructions allow for there being no definition

[Neveracrossword]

22 Richter

23 Scaled

[Neveracrossword]

NMA, each clue was definitely just answered by wordplay, but definitions form part of the theme...

[newmodarmy]

Hi NAC- could you explain how AWESOME works please. I know you'll be right but can't work it out.

[JJ109]

Initial letters of along with ermine second = awes

'ome = cockney somewhere in London "house"

[Neveracrossword]

NMA, I didn't parse it at the time , but I think it's the first letters (introductory requirements) of Along With Ermine S+'Ome, home, house somewhere in London (ie Cockney).

[Neveracrossword]

I type too slowly!

[newmodarmy]

Got you. Thanks

[Matakari]

Many thanks, NACW! The final hurdle is here:
14a To be extremely malign about? (6)  : E?T?M?
21a Others discontented, was hanging around? (6) : ?R?S?S  ( WRESTS )
30a Ace in study? (4) : D?A?   (DEAN )

[roslyn251254]

21a and 30a  YES

ENTOMB ... TO BE + M(alig)N anagram

[Neveracrossword]

14 Entomb

21 Wrests

Dean  (A, ace inside Den study)

[Matakari]

Grateful, roslyn251254 and NACW, I saw "entomb", but did not manage to parse it.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, after your strugglewith Louvre, I gave up wondering about your parsing!