It shares a building with the Brockley Jack pub.

The theatre was founded by David Kincaid, Michael Bottle and Peter Rocca; Kincaid and Bottle took the leads roles in its first production, of the Chekhov pieces On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco and Swansong.

[6] The Brockley Jack Theatre's programming is a mix of established works and new writing, produced by in-house company Southside Arts[7] and by visiting theatre companies, plus comedy and music nights and regular work-in-progress "scratch" shows.

It runs workshops to support new playwrights, hosts the Brockley Jack Film Club and produces an annual festival of new plays, Write Now, supported by Lewisham Council.

[4] Mike Burnside was the initial artistic director[9] and Rhys Thomas held the post from 1996 to 1999.