Crossword Genius

Never to return wearing dress in theatrical space for visitors (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

green room

'theatrical space for visitors' is the definition.

'never to return wearing dress' is the wordplay.
'never' becomes 'neer' ('ne'er' can be a synonym of 'never').
'to return' is a reversal indicator.
'wearing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'dress' becomes 'groom' ('groom' can be a synonym of 'dress'**).
'neer' back-to-front is 'reen'.
'reen' put into 'groom' is 'GREEN-ROOM'.

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for green room that I've seen before include "Place for actors to relax" , "Where actors can relax in the theatre" , "theatre? Only a bit of it" , "backstage area" , "Here's the rest of the cast" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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