Following drama, object to toy (9)
I believe the answer is:
plaything
'to toy' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'following drama object' is the wordplay.
'following' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'drama' becomes 'play' (synonyms).
'object' becomes 'thing' (an object is a thing or item).
'play' next to 'thing' is 'PLAYTHING'.
(Other definitions for plaything that I've seen before include "someone treated lightly" , "source of amusement" , "Toy" , "used to impact king's conscience?" .)