Ship neat rum for player (8)
I believe the answer is:
thespian
'for player' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'ship neat rum' is the wordplay.
'rum' indicates an anagram (rum can mean strange or unusual).
'ship'+'neat'='shipneat'
'shipneat' anagrammed gives 'THESPIAN'.
(Other definitions for thespian that I've seen before include "Theatrical type" , "A formal actor" , "Stage-player" , "person in the acting business" , "stage performer" .)