The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word FRAME-UP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result FRAME-UP
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "event that’s staged/event that’s staged" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case event that’s staged/event that’s staged = frame-up.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FRAME-UP mean?
FRAME-UP noun- A false incrimination of an innocent person; a scheme to frame an innocent person for a crime.