The future for arts at St Martin's Church, East Looe, looks bright despite the church itself being closed. The Tudor Players are preparing to put on their latest show, Thunder Rock, between November 30 and December 2 and the arts programme for 2006 has already been confirmed. Next month marks the end of the second succesful year for the arts programme at the church, which raises funds to help with the restoration and maintenance of St Martins with St Nicholas, as well as encouraging arts' performances. Spokesman Ray Thornton said: 'The programme has inlcuded plays, choral and orchestral concerts and musical and dance events. 'With few exceptions, events have been held on the first Friday of every month throughout the last two years. 'The result has been the attraction of many thousands of pounds into the restoration and maintenance funds.' The arts programme has been a success in what has been a difficult period for the church. 'At the moment all is not plain sailing,' said Mr Thornton. 'When thieves stole many hundreds of the church roof slates this made its repair imperative and, with the help of a number of local and national agencies, this work has now begun. 'For the duration of the restoration work St Martin's is closed and the church shrouded in scaffolding and sheeting. 'Not only divine worship, but also all other church events normally held in the East Looe church are now to be held in the church hall. 'The cast and crew of the Tudor Players don't seem to mind a bit. 'They claim that the hall chairs are more comfortable than the church pews and the hall is certainly warmer on cold, winter nights.' The Thunder Rock show will be put on in the church hall. 'It's an extraordinary play set in a lighthouse about ideals, imagination and ghosts,' said Mr Thornton. 'It should mix well with the Christmas spirit.' 'The future looks bright,' he added. 'The arts programme for 2006 is already confirmed. 'Again, events are to be staged on the first Friday of each month and the year ahead includes four major plays, an old time music hall, a full orchestral evening, a choral evening and an event mainly for children.'