Judges probing material for actors' read-through (9)
I believe the answer is:
rehearsal
'actors' read-through' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'judges probing material' is the wordplay.
'judges' becomes 'hears' (as in to hear a court case).
'probing' indicates putting letters inside (probe can mean to make a hole in).
'material' becomes 'real' (associated in meaning).
'hears' placed into 'real' is 'REHEARSAL'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rehearsal that I've seen before include "Preparation for a show" , "show trial" , "Dry run" , "Play run-through" , "Practice in theatre etc" .)