Theatrics from Dame with moral performing (9)
I believe the answer is:
melodrama
'theatrics' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'dame with moral performing' is the wordplay.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'performing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'dame' put after 'moral' is 'moraldame'.
'moraldame' is an anagram of 'MELODRAMA'.
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for melodrama that I've seen before include "Tear-jerker" , "Play of extravagant action" , "Extravagantly styled play" , "Old play in emotional and sensational style" , "Exceptionally sensational play" .)