THE cast of a hit musical have launched an appeal for help in finding a place to stay in Glasgow during COP26 - with one actor being quoted £15,000 for an apartment.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert has a run at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow from November 1-6, the same week as the climate change conference is ­being held.

The show was delayed from July because of Covid restrictions and now the cast and crew are struggling to find accommodation.

A similar situation is also affecting performers with Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which is on at the King’s Theatre in the same week.

Priscilla actor Rebecca Lisewski, who plays the roles of Marion and Diva in the show, said it was ­originally due to be on in Glasgow in July, but an additional week was added to the UK tour to allow it to be rescheduled.

She said some people had initially managed to secure somewhere to stay on a site which offers digs for theatre performers, but there was now a huge struggle to find places.

She said: “It is unbelievable – when I first looked I couldn’t believe it.

“There is a city centre apartment which I am sure I have stayed in ­before, which was two bedrooms for £15,040 for six nights.

“The cheapest I found is £2400 which is for a three star hotel about two miles out for six nights, which is ridiculous.

“On Airbnb you have got over £1000 a night in some places, for a one-bed apartment. Even people with a single room, shared bathroom it is £200 a night. It is crazy.”

A plea for help went out on social media after Valerie Darroch, who has two children who are musical theatre actors, was contacted by a friend for help.

The post said: “The casts and crew of these shows are tearing their hair out trying to find places to stay and no way can they afford the rates paid by NGOs and government officials.

“It’s been a rubbish year or so for theatre – would be wonderful if big-hearted Glaswegians could open their hearts and doors to a few lovely ­theatre folk for a week? They say ‘People Make Glasgow’ – let’s show that we mean it. The show(s) must go on!”

Lisewski said there had been a huge response to the message so far.

She said: “My grandma is from Glasgow and my dad was born there, I just love it there.

“This has just made me beam and smile even more, that everyone has rallied around and are helping us.”

Up to 30,000 delegates are expected to be in Glasgow between October 31 and November 12 for COP26, which is billed as the most important climate change conference in years.

The soaring accommodation costs has also led to environmental ­campaigners setting up a network of ­“human hotel” hosts, with people ­offering free spare rooms for those who would otherwise be unable to ­afford to come.

Roger Richardson, the tour ­manager for Priscilla, said there was a living allowance for cast and crew which would usually cover average accommodation costs of around £200 a week.

He added: “One can only say ­people are profiteering really, it is ridiculous. People are saying to me they have been quoted £500 a night for a double room.

“We are getting through it slowly, but it is a problem.”

The cast have a dedicated email should anyone want to offer them accommodation which is priscillacastcometostay@yahoo.com