Run dramatic work with empty theatre (7)
I believe the answer is:
operate
'run' is the definition.
(I know that run can be written as operate)
'dramatic work with empty theatre' is the wordplay.
'dramatic work' becomes 'opera' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'theatre' with its middle taken out is 'te'.
'opera'+'te'='OPERATE'
(Other definitions for operate that I've seen before include "Eat rope (anag.)" , "effect" , "Function; run" , "Manage, run" , "Perform surgery or run a machine" .)