Furniture item helpful to actor (7)

I believe the answer is:

dresser

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'furniture item' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for dresser that I've seen before include "employed off stage" , "Kitchen sideboard - theatre employee" , "Sideboard with open shelves" , "one employed backstage" , "Open-shelved cupboard for displaying dishes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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