THEATRE staff are asking their neighbours if they can spare a bed for a touring actor.

The flagship Gala Theatre in Durham City centre theatre needs residents to sign up for a "digs list" to put up actors or performers appearing as part of touring or home-grown productions.

The list will be sent to companies who are in Durham for anything from one night to six weeks.

But it seems that anyone who signs up is not so likely to get a big name dropping round.

The 15m riverside venue has welcomed top stars from the worlds of music, theatre, dance and comedy.

In the next few weeks alone, the stage will play host to Ardal O'Hanlon - best known as Dougal from TV's Father Ted, 50s music legend Marty Wilde and comedy duo Cannon and Ball.

But it is the lesser-known names who are expected to take an interest in finding somewhere cheap.

Simon Stallworthy, the Gala Director, said: "The tradition of theatre digs is almost as old as theatre itself.

"Actors are always travelling around the country and it has never been a particularly well paid profession for your average actor, so they are always on the look out for somewhere cheap to stay.

"A lot of actors also prefer to stay in someone's private house as it is more homely and they might be in a town that's new to them for several weeks.

"It's common in most other theatres to have a list of accommodation in spare rooms for visiting actors to make use of.

"We haven't got such a list at Gala and as we engage with actors for our own Gala productions and longer runs of pantomime we want to develop a list which will extend a welcome to companies with some good old Durham hospitality."

Room rates vary according to location and facilities, but guests typically pay about 75 per week.

Anyone wishing to join the digs list should contact Joanne Alexander at the theatre.

Call 0191-332-4045, email: jalexander@galadurham.co.uk or write to Gala Accommodation List, Millennium Place, Durham, DH1 1WA.