A WORLD-CLASS programme of events, with highlights including folk legend Eliza Carthy and comedian Jason Manford, has ensured that The Met is widely throught of as one of the best arts venues in the country.

But staff and management at The Met also put a huge amount back into the town’s community.

Director David Agnew says: “The Met is funded by the Arts Council and by Bury Council to broaden and improve projects so people come to Bury for culture, and we take that role very seriously.

“We are a not for profit organisation, so when we make money we put on more activities. It’s really about responding to what the community wants to do.”

With this in mind, they are opening a recording studio early in 2010 in partnership with Bury Council; fans of Strictly Come Dancing can learn to salsa at weekly sessions on a Tuesday; and people of all different cultures and abilities enjoy samba drumming workshops on a Saturday.

“It’s not about fantastic performances, it’s about people’s development and enjoying music,” says David.

They also run youth dance sessions and drama activities for people with disabilities, plus youth theatre sessions for primary school children.

“Those sessions are great because they help children to develop social and communication skills so when they move on to secondary school they have already met people in a creative and neutral space,” says David.

Around 10,000 people took part in workshops at The Met last year. But the activities are only made possible by its success as a theatre, music and comedy venue.

“People presume that we are a department of the council and if they pay their taxes we will always exist, but the reality is that we are a charity and we rely on people buying tickets, becoming members and using us,” says David.

“If that doesn’t happen then we would simply cease to exist, but if people come and spend their £8 on a ticket it allows us to put more back into the community of Bury culturally.”

That said, David really wants young people to take up the chance of coming to the theatre without paying anything at all. As part of the Arts Council’s A Night Less Ordinary scheme The Met offers free tickets to selected events to people under 26.

However, David says that he would like to see more people take advantage of the scheme.

“People are busy and they assume that there’s a catch but really the Arts Council just want people to get into the habit of coming to the theatre,” he says.

“Television is a dilution of what theatre can do. It can be really touching, really creative and inventive, and it can unlock whole new worlds.”

And for people who want to relax after the show they have just opened a new bar, Malt, which has a drinks menu including real ale and whiskies. Along with The Met’s Automatic restaurant, it helps to make the venue more of a “destination”, giving people the chance to enjoy an entire evening in one venue.

“I feel that people can enjoy it through the week and take time to look through the programme,” says David. “We wanted a snug little bar where people can go after a show and enjoy a drink and talk about what they’ve seen.”

l—For more information about what’s on this season at The Met visit themet.biz or ring 0161 761 2216.

kdibbits@bury times.co.uk