Crossword Genius

Stage fellows carrying one end of banner ... (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

boards

'stage' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'fellows carrying one end of banner' is the wordplay.
'fellows' becomes 'bods' (**).
'carrying' is an insertion indicator.
'one' becomes 'a'.
'end of' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'banner' is 'r'.
'a'+'r'='ar'
'bods' enclosing 'ar' is 'BOARDS'.

(Other definitions for boards that I've seen before include "directors make them up" , "Committees or planks" , "Gets on (a ship)" , "Theatre stages" , "Puts up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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