During play's opening, venue empty and lifeless (8)
I believe the answer is:
inactive
'lifeless' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'during play's opening venue empty' is the wordplay.
'during' becomes 'in' (e.g. during February means in February).
'play's opening' becomes 'acti' (I've seen this in another clue).
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'venue' with its centre removed is 've'.
'in'+'acti'+'ve'='INACTIVE'
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for inactive that I've seen before include "Unoccupied" , "Passive, not working or in motion" , "Lifeless" , "Not operative" , "Having no effect" .)