Plays for time somewhere in the theatre (6)
I believe the answer is:
stalls
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'plays for time' is the first definition.
(to play for time is to stall or delay)
'somewhere in the theatre' is the second definition.
(seats in a theatre)
(Other definitions for stalls that I've seen before include "One section of a theatre" , "They are in the market (for theatre seats?)" , "Part of theatre" , "Compartments for horses" , "Evasive moves" .)