Packing in large audiences to begin with – quite the reverse – getting worried (7)
I believe the answer is:
alarmed
'worried' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'packing in large audiences to begin with quite the reverse' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'packing' could be 'armed' (both can mean carrying a weapon) and 'armed' is found within the answer.
'large' could be 'l' (eg in clothes sizes) and 'l' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'a' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'getting' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alarmed that I've seen before include "Flapping" , "Fearful" , "Frightened, frightened by danger" , "Given a turn" , "Terrified" .)