Theatrical production always sent up university dons (5)
I believe the answer is:
revue
'theatrical production' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'always sent up university dons' is the wordplay.
'always' becomes 'ever' (synonyms).
'sent up' is a reversal indicator.
'university' becomes 'U' (abbreviation for university).
'dons' means one lot of letters goes inside another (don can mean to wear or be covered in).
'ever' back-to-front is 'reve'.
'reve' going around 'u' is 'REVUE'.
(Other definitions for revue that I've seen before include "Entertainment consisting of sketches" , "Topical variety show" , "Light theatrical entertainment" , "Variety show with mixed entertainments" , "Song and dance entertainment" .)