Across:
1 Air hostess dismisses trio (‘air hostess’ dismisses ‘trio’ = ahsess = SASHES) of bands (SASHES),
4 One of those on ship (able-bodied seaman = AB-) without company (-ALONE-) has some starter (some ‘Starter’ = -S) (ABALONES) of rare seafood (ABALONES),
9 Agrees to (ADOPTS) dig up (= reverse indicator) bone (-T- bone) and shell (pod = -DOP-) in South Africa (SA = A-S) (ADOPTS),
10 Clip of trick (clip of trick/ ‘lark’ = -LAR-) in rugby (rugby) play (= anagram indicator) (rugby = BURG-Y)(BURGLARY) involves lifting that’s definitely illegal (BURGLARY),
12 Scene (DRAMA-) opening tragedy (opening ‘Tragedy’ = -T-) – the original (the first = 1st = -IST) (DRAMATIST) produced by Aeschylus (DRAMATIST),
13 Lie (tale = TA-LE) about Bacharach’s intro (‘Bacharachs’ intro = -B-) (TABLE) produced for Arthur (Round TABLE produced for King Arthur at Camelot),
14 Mind (BRAIN-) – one might have to be hung out to dry after this (-WASHING) (BRAINWASHING), as it’s part of the conditioning (BRAINWASHING),
18 Shooting up (GROWING) with 23 down (‘pains’ = PAINS) (GROWING PAINS) produced early problems for those doing a stretch (GROWING PAINS),
21 Drink (RUM-) with couple starting to ballroom (couple/first two letters starting to ‘BAllroom’ = -BA) (RUMBA) dance (RUMBA),
22 Takes advantage again of (RE-EMPLOYS) lough (Lough REE- = RE-E) tip for maintaining (tip for ‘Maintaining’ = -M-) red herrings? (-PLOYS) (RE-EMPLOYS),
24 Imitates life (-ART-) in short dresses (minis = M-INIS) (MARTINIS) and gin cocktails (MARTINIS),
25 Bug (CICADA) in police department (CID = CI-D) captures assistant commissioner (Assistant Commissioner = AC) backtracking (= reversal indicator) (AC = -CA-) on answer (-A) (CICADA),
26 Individual (-ONE) consumed by the actor’s dramatic workplace (ST- AGE) (STONE AGE) during the period when all things Rocky had a mass appeal (STONE AGE),
27 Nosey parker excludes Karen (‘nosey parker’ dismisses ‘Karen’ = oseypr = OSPREY) Hawk (OSPREY).
Down:
1 Supports (STANDS BY) champions? (STANDS BY),
2 Travelling in secret by boat (STOWAWAY), Washington twice (WA + WA) replaced regiment (r) in plot (story) (‘wa+wa’ replaced ‘r’ in ‘stoRy’ = stoWAWAy’ = STOWAWAY),
3 Over and above (EXTRA) some complex trauma (some ‘complEX TRAuma’ = EXTRA),
5 Lad (BO-Y) welcomes organisation (-UN-) by team leader (‘Team’ leader = -T-) following game (HUNTER) (BOUNTY HUNTER) – if there’s a catch, he’ll make sure it’s a profitable one (BOUNTY HUNTER),
6 Veg out (veg out/relax = LIGHTEN UP) from diet? (diet = LIGHTEN UP),
7 Presbyterian ignores priest (‘presbyterian’ ignores ‘priest’ = ebyran = NEARBY) a stone’s throw away (NEARBY),
8 Philosophically speaking, schools (STYLES) immersed in touristy lessons (immersed in ‘touriSTY LESsons’ = STYLES),
11 Lose and you won’t get your hands on the cup (FINAL WARNING) – it’s advice a manager gives the team before getting fired (FINAL WARNING)
15 Raver ain’t (raver ain’t = NARRATIVE) wrong (= anagram indicator) and that tells its own story (NARRATIVE),
16 Doctor (Dr = D-R) admits I (-I-) raised (= reverse indicator) relative (son = -NOS-) from Australia (-AU-) (DINOSAUR) produced by one of those who has passed away, a long time ago? (DINOSAUR),
17 One (I-) getting letters of distress (-SOS-) to stay (stay = -TASY) away (= anagram indicator) (ISOSTASY) interests the geologist, whose crust is in the balance (ISOSTASY),
19 Local expresses surprise (CRUMBS) on the trail of Hansel and Gretel (CRUMBS),
20 Rome by (Rome by) train? (= anagram indicator) (Rome by = EMBYRO) That’s in the early stage of development! (EMBYRO),
23 Distresses (PAINS) Parisians with no airs (‘Parisians’ with no ‘airs’ = pains = PAINS).