[2] According to playwright Ken Duncum, BATS Theatre in the 1980s "existed as a place that could be rented for 60 dollars a day – they didn't mind what you did in it".

[1][5][4] In 2011, the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) decided to sell the building, asking a price of $1.9 million, potentially leaving the theatre without a home.

[8] The building was purchased by film director Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh later that year with the intent to provide a stable home for the theatre.

[15][16][17] Part of the philosophy of BATS is to be accessible, supportive of emerging artists and to allow theatrical risk with experimental work.

[25] On the ground level is the larger performing space with fixed seating of 86 people, the box office and a bar.

[21][19] Many New Zealand playwrights, actors, directors, crew and designers have mounted shows at BATS Theatre, often as a spring-board to their careers.

Some examples include The Sex Fiend (1989) by Stephen Sinclair and Danny Mulheron, Blue Sky Boys (1991) by Ken Duncum, Verbatim (1993) by Miranda Harcourt, Frangipani Perfume (1998) by Makerita Urale, Banging Cymbal, Clanging Gong (2002) by Jo Randerson, Vula (2002) directed by Nina Nawalowalo, And What Remains (2006) by Mīria George and Apollo 13: Mission Control (2008) by Kip Chapman.

[10][29][30] Krishnan's Dairy by Jacob Rajan, which premiered at BATS in 1997 and has toured New Zealand many times has been announced for adaptation into a feature film.

[31][32] Other successful New Zealand names in theatre and comedy have presented early works at BATS, including Flight of the Conchords, Duncan Sarkies, Rhys Darby, So You're a Man, The Naked Samoans and Māori playwrights Hone Kouka and Riwia Brown.

The comedy play Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die written by Abby Howells, premiered at BATS temporary 'Out of Site' venue in June 2014.

Using the whole building has occurred including a site-specific theatrical installation Demeter's Dark Ride (2005) by Madeline McNamara.

The first STAB show at the newly renovated building in 2014 was Watch, directed by Uther Dean and Meg Rollandi exploring day-to-day surveillance.

[34][35][36] The Young and Hungry Season was run annually at BATS from 1994 – 2017 to provide youth 15–25 years with a platform to create and experience theatre, and expanded to include works in Auckland.