Exercises going into speech and action in theatre (9)
I believe the answer is:
operation
'action in theatre' is the definition.
'operation' can be an answer for 'action' (operation is a kind of action). I'm not sure about the 'in theatre' bit.
'exercises going into speech' is the wordplay.
'exercises' becomes 'pe'.
'going into' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'speech' becomes 'oration' (oration is a kind of speech).
'pe' going inside 'oration' is 'OPERATION'.
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for operation that I've seen before include "military undertaking" , "To one pair (anag.)" , "Surgical or military piece of work" , "activity" , "Manoeuvre - military action" .)