Worker in the theatre? (8)
I believe the answer is:
operator
'worker in the theatre?' is the definition.
'operator' can be an answer for 'worker' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'in the theatre?' bit.
'worker in the theatre?' is the wordplay.
'worker in' becomes 'opera' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'theatre?' becomes 'or' (OR for Operating Room - surgical theatre).
'opera'+'t'+'or'='OPERATOR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for operator that I've seen before include "Person who runs a machine or a business" , "Person who controls machinery" , "Person at switchboard, etc" , "Poor rate for a businessman" , "One working a machine" .)