Imaginative painter needed in the theatre (6,6)

'the theatre' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'imaginative painter needed' is the wordplay.
'imaginative' becomes 'makeup' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'painter' becomes 'artist' (painter is an example).
'needed' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'makeup'+'artist'='MAKEUP ARTIST'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?