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The Theatre

Kate Bannister

Artistic Director

Contact Kate

The Jack Studio is vibrant and intimate performance venue in south east London. Home to theatre productions, Scratch nights, film screenings, workshops and rehearsals, our multi award-winning team and space provide an accessible and exciting programme of arts activities throughout the year.

We are committed to producing theatre that inspires, challenges and entertains our audience.

The theatre also supports new companies and theatre artists, providing a space for them to develop their ideas and work, alongside the productions created each year by the Jack’s in-house team.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AWARD (KATE BANNISTER) OFF WEST END AWARDS 2024

Winner Production and Design for The Mystery of Irma Vep, Off West End Awards, 2026

Commendation for Excellence for Outstanding Theatre Designs, Karl Swinyard, London Pub Theatres Awards 2025 Winner of London Pub Theatre of the Year 2023

Runner up Best in Creative Sector, Mayor of Lewisham Awards 2025

Winner Best in Creative Sector Mayor of Lewisham Awards 2023

Winner Outstanding Production Values for A Christmas Carol, London Pub Theatre Awards 2023

Winner of Social Media Presence and Activities in the Off West End Awards 2023

Winner of Best Programming Policy and Most Welcoming Theatre in the Off West End Awards 2022

Winner of Best Lighting Design (Robbie Butler) for Wolves Are Coming For You, Off West End Awards 2022

Winner Outstanding Production Values for Wolves Are Coming for You, London Pub Theatre Awards 2021

London Pub Theatre of the Year, Runner Up 2019

Winner Best Programmes and Online Booking, the Off West End Awards 2019

Runner up, Time Out London, Best Loved Cultural Space (south east) 2017, 2018

Winner of Most Welcoming Theatre (south east) in the Off West End Awards 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2017

Jack Studio Productions have received over 160 Off West End and Standing Ovation Nominations

You can read London Pub Theatre’s venue profile and information here.

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The Jack Studio Theatre is led by Kate Bannister (Artistic Director) and Karl Swinyard (Producer), supported by the Jack’s artistic team. They were awarded Best Venue Directors in the Fringe Report Awards for their work ‘in making The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre an outstanding venue for exciting theatre; and for encouraging the development of new talent.’

They have also won London Pub Theatre of the Year, 2023, and Best in Creative Sector, Mayor of Lewisham Awards, 2023. Kate was awarded the prestigious Off West End Award for Artistic Director in 2024.

Kate is an established theatre director and designer, who has worked throughout London and the UK, staging several British premieres, as well as opera, revivals and community and youth theatre events. She directs all of the Jack’s in-house productions. Kate is committed to supporting new writing through the Jack’s writing programmes, and was Artistic Director for the Write Now Festivals, which she instigated.  She has programmed and produced over 400 events at the Jack Studio. She has also run online workshops and produced several short films.

OFF WEST END AWARD NOMINATIONS / Assessors’ Choice
STANDING OVATION NOMINATIONS (London Pub Theatres) &
FRINGE THEATRE AWARD NOMINATIONS

  • Standing Ovation Nomination for 10k? Jog On!
  • Fringe Theatre Nominations: New Play, Ensemble, Director, Diversity and Inclusions, and Production for You’ve Gone Quiet
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for You’ve Gone Quiet
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for The Village Where No One Suffers
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Call Yourself an Irishman
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for What I’d Be 
  • OFF WEST END WINNER for Design and Production for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Off West End Finalist for Performance for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Assessors’ Choice for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Assessors’ Choice for Big Cranberry
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Wrap Party
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Vera; Or, the Nihilists
  • Fringe Theatre Award Nomination for What a Gay Day! for Luke Adamson (Production)
  • Fringe Theatre Award Nomination for What a Gay Day! for Luke Adamson (Solo Performance, Play)
  • Fringe Theatre Award Nomination for What a Gay Day! for Alex Donald (Director, Play)
  • Fringe Theatre Award Nomination for What a Gay Day! for Luke Adamson and Alex Donald (Lighting)
  • Fringe Theatre Award Nomination for Out of Bounds for Clare Stopford (Director, Play)
  • Fringe Theatre Award Nomination for Out of Bounds for Jason Sardinha (Solo performance, Play)
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for It’s Not About Coffee
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Trestle
  • Director (Plays) Kate Bannister for Montague’s Millions
  • Ensemble, Adam Elliott, Tice Oakfield, Julia Pagett for Montague’s Millions
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Montague’s Millions
  • Solo Performance in a Play Tony Bell for Man In The Rain
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for In The Shadow of Her Majesty
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Our War
  • STANDING OVATION WINNER for Our War
  • Sound Design Calum Perrin for Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five
    (or the children’s crusade)
  • OFFWEST END WINNER for Production for So It Goes’ Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five
    (or the children’s crusade)  
  • OFF WEST END WINNER for Video Design Doug Baker for Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five (or the children’s crusade) 
  • Director (Plays) Doug Baker for Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five
    (or the children’s crusade)
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five
    (or the children’s crusade)
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for The Incredibly Scary Object
  • Solo Performance in a Play Colin Hurley for Lear’s Shadow
  • Director (Plays) Kate Bannister for Oh No It Isn’t!
  • Lead Performance in a Play Matthew Parker for Oh No It Isn’t!
  • Lead Performance in a Play Bryan Pilkington for Oh No It Isn’t!
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Oh No It Isn’t!
  • STANDING OVATION WINNER for Oh No It Isn’t!
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Splinter
  • OffComm Nomination for Splinter
  • OffComm Nomination for The Knowing
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Hedda Gabler
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Past Tents
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Desmond’s Scared of the Smoking Sea
  • Off Comm nomination for Outlier
  • Supporting Performance in a Play Louise Bereford for Behold! The Monkey Jesus
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Richard III (a one-person show)
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Kitty in the Lane
  • Lighting Design: Joe Malyan for The Sun, The Mountain, and Me
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for The Sun, The Mountain, and Me
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Still Here
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for A Christmas Carol
  • Ensemble for MICA Theatre for Wasted
  • Performer (plays) Matthew Parker for The Play with Speeches
  • Performer (plays) Tice Oakfield for The Woman Who Amuses Herself
  • Set Design: Karl Swinyard for The Woman Who Amuses Herself
  • Video Design: Douglas Baker for The Woman Who Amuses Herself
  • Sound Design: Julian Starr for The Woman Who Amuses Herself
  • Lighting Design: Carey Chomsoonthorn for The Woman Who Amuses Herself
  • Costume Design: Martin Robinson for The Woman Who Amuses Herself
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for The Women Who Amuses Herself
  • Video Design: Douglas Baker for Ten Days in a Madhouse WINNER
  • Sound Design: Callum Perin for Ten Days in a Madhouse WINNER
  • Director: Douglas Baker for Ten Days in a Madhouse
  • Standing Ovation Nomintion for Ten Days in a Madhouse
  • Ensemble: Richard II produced by We Are Animate
  • Lighting Design: Jack Channer for Richard II
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Richard II
  • Supporting Performer (plays) Cornelia Baumann for Payne: The Stars Are Fire
  • Supporting Performer (plays) Lucy Ioannou for Payne: The Stars Are Fire
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Payne: The Stars Are Fire
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Holst: The Music in The Spheres
  • Production: Kindred Spirits produced by the Jack Studio Theatre
  • Sound Design: Julian Starr for Kindred Spirits
  • Director: Kate Bannister for Kindred Spirits
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Kindred Spirits
  • Lead Performer in a Play: Lola Oteh Cole for Our War

AWARD NOMINATIONS continued

  • Director: Kate Bannister for Wolves Are Coming For You
  • Lead Performer in a Play: Brigid Lohrey for Wolves Are Coming For You
  • Lead Performer in a PLay: Grace Cookey-Gam for Wolves Are Coming For You
  • Lighting Design: Robbie Butler for Wolves Are Coming For You OFFIE WINNER 2022
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Wolves Are Coming For You
  • Lead Perfomer in a Play: Timothy Harker for Trestle
  • Lead Performer in a Play: Jilly Bond for Trestle
  • Production: Trestle
  • Director: Matthew Parker for Trestle
  • Standing Ovation Nomination for Trestle
  • Best Director: John Patterson for Not I, Catastrophe & Rockaby
  • Best Costume Design: Martin Robinson for The Invisible Man
  • Best Male Performance: Alan Goodbody for A Kind of Loving
  • Best Video Design: Douglas Baker for Moby Dick
  • Best Sound Design: Alistair Lax for Jekyll & Hyde
  • Best Video Design: Andy Ioannou & Daniel Frampton for Jekyll & Hyde
  • Best Musical Director: Jordan Li-Smith for Queen of the Mist
  • Best Lighting Design: Bethany Gupwell for Queen of the Mist
  • Best New Play: Ross McGregor for Gentleman Jack
  • Best Director: Ross McGregor for Gentleman Jack
  • Best Male in a Play: Andrew Umerah for Sweet Like Chocolate Boy
  • Most Promising New Playwright: Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu for Sweet Like Chocolate Boy
  • Best Supporting Female in Play: Cornelia Baumann for Dracula
  • Best Set Design: Francine Huin-Wah for Dracula
  • Best Supporting Male in a Play: Alex Stevens for Dracula
  • Best Lighting Design: Tom Kitney for Lifeboat
  • Best Sound Design: Jack Elliot Barton for Lifeboat
  • Best Production: The White Rose, produced by Arrows & Traps Theatre
  • Best Production: Kes, produced by the Jack Studio Theatre
  • Best Director: Kate Bannister for Kes
  • Best Male in a Play: Simon Stallard for Kes
  • Best Male in a Play: Rob Pomfret for Kes
  • Best Sound Design: Elliot Clay & Jack Elliot Barton for The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
  • Best Production: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
  • Best Lighting Design: Ben Jacobs for The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
    WINNER 2018
  • Best Supporting Male in a Play: Bryan Pilkington for The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
  • Best Supporting Female in a Play: Harriet Earle for The Importance Of Being Earnest
  • Best Male in a Play: Daniel Hall for The Importance Of Being Earnest
  • Best Male in a Play: Riley Jones for The Importance Of Being Earnest
  • Best Supporting Male in a Play: Will Pinchin for Frankenstein
  • Best Director: Ross McGregor for Frankenstein
  • Best Production: House of America
  • Best Sound Design: Jack Barton and Elliot Clay for Macbeth
  • Best Lighting Design: Ben Jacobs for Macbeth
  • Best Male Performance: Christopher Tester for Crime and Punishment
  • Best Director: Sebastian Palka for Holding the Man
  • Best Male Performance: Alex Dowding for The Awakening
  • Best Set Designer: Florence Watts for The Awakening
  • Best Lighting Designer: Jennifer Rose for The Awakening
  • Best Sound Designer: Max Graef for The Awakening
  • Best Production: Time of Our Lives
  • Best Choreography: Will Pinchin for Anna Karenina
  • Best Costume: Ross McGregor for Anna Karenina
  • Best Costume Designer: Zahra Mansouri for The Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona Lisa
  • Best Set Designer: Zahra Mansouri for The Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona Lisa
  • Best Ensemble: The Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona Lisa
  • Best Male: Daniel Chrisostomou for Elephant Man
  • Best Production: Elephant Man
  • Best Production: The Mystery of Irma Vep, produced by the Jack Studio
  • Best Director: Kate Bannister for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Best Male: Jonathan Kemp for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Best Male: William Kempsell for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Best Lighting Designer: William Ingham for The Mystery of Irma Vep
  • Best Musical: Love Story, produced by Lanaguage Laid Bare
  • Best Set Designer: Richard Evans for The Merchant of Venice
  • Best Lighting Designer: Paul Need for Who Will Carry The Word?
  • Best Lighting Designer: Stuart Glover for The Merchant of Venice
  • Best Costume Designer: Rochelle Parry for Julius Caesar
  • Best Sound Designer: Max Pappenheim for Kafka v Kafka
  • Best New Play: Lewis Hetherington for Bodies Unfinished
  • Best Lighting Designer: Katherine Lowry for Bodies Unfinished
  • Best Production: Bodies Unfinished, produced by Grey Swan
  • Best Set Design: Stephanie Williams for Bodies Unfinished

It’s a beautiful piece of theatre. Subtle, engaging and deeply touching…This is the Jack team doing what they do best and once again producing a diamond. The cast are equally brilliant… This is a real treat. Heartfelt and elegant, it is yet further proof that the Brockley Jack is one of the best theatres in London.

Lifeboat is a moving tale of friendship and endurance that is both inspiring and stirring. One more impeccable in-house production for the close-knit team of the Jack Studio Theatre

It really is a wonderful evening… the acting is exemplary as is the direction. The Brockley Jack can be enormously proud of this production.

under the direction of the consistently brilliant Kate Bannister, it makes for an enthralling 70 minutes. The Brockley Jack has a well-deserved reputation for its excellent in-house productions. This is  undoubtedly another triumph for the Brockley Jack team. Go and see it while you can.

a heartfelt and hard-hitting production. This makes productions like Imole Theatre Company’s Our War vital – reminding us of and celebrating the Black African and Caribbean men and women who fought and contributed to the war effort.

The  Jack’s commitment to giving a platform to exciting new work under the artistic direction of Kate Bannister cannot be ignored. Pool is one of a number of pieces of new writing in the theatre’s Write Now Festival. It is everything Fringe theatre can achieve and more.

Jack Studio’s Write Now Festival celebrates the diversity and energy of south east London’s emerging playwrights. Writer Olga Braga explores the turmoil of confused identity, dramatising the problem of artificially constructed boundaries and social categories in a progressively diversifying world. Braga has a talent to inject fire and emotion into every line that engages the audience tirelessly holding their attention until the very last. 90 minutes straight through, and not once did it falter

the script does not disappoint, ending with a shocking visual and aural display. True to the Jack Studio Theatre style, this is a new adaptation of a script with great potential. 

a huge shout out to Kate and Karl at the Jack Studio. They have really gone the extra mile to welcome their audience back… their attention to the needs of the audience go a long way to explaining why this will always be one of my favourite off west-end theatres

This production gets it right in every way… we certainly advise beating your way to the box office to see it!

Inventiveness underpins a hilarious romp that takes us through de Rougemont’s incredible life story… a triumph of theatrical storytelling.

Put simply, the entire show was marvellous… a truly wonderful piece of theatre.

Seasonal fare doesn’t get better than the Jack Studio Theatre’s Seasonal Offering. Kate Bannister serves up yet another winner – perfectly timed and done to a crisp. This is a sparkling production.

The Jack Studio does it again with another excellent, unique production that effectively incorporates a range of theatrical styles.

one of the must-see shows of the year … an amazing, compelling, thought provoking and unforgettable production.

Flawless script and impeccable acting – Spank House exposes with glitz and dark humour the seedy truth of the ‘boiler room’ scams…A triumph! Jake Costello’s performance is incomparable. Arguably one of the best shows in south London! This show is not to be missed.

enjoyable and well-acted show: there aren’t many productions of this quality on the fringe, and you owe it to yourself to catch them when you can

The Jack Studio theatre is strong on community and welcomes people back to its theatre for this magical show… It’s a high-quality show, very atmospheric and entertaining.

It’s a great story…Over the years we’ve come to expect good things from the in-house creative team at the Jack, and this latest offering is no exception.

If there is one thing you can rely on it is that the Christmas offering at the Brockley Jack Studio will both surprise and delight, and this year’s offering is a real bobby dazzler… The evening belongs to everyone… If you are looking for a happy and hilarious Christmas show this is it.

The Jack Studio Theatre Creative Team

Karl Swinyard

Theatre Manager & General Enquiries

Contact Karl

Scratch at the Jack

Scratch Nights

Contact

Jack Studio Theatre Literary Manager

Allison Heinz

The Jack Studio Theatre Programming Team

Kate Bannister, Julia Stubbs, Lola Oteh, Allison Heinz and William McGeough.

18+

productions a year

25

seasons and counting

100,000

hours of light

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