LGBTQ+ arts venue in Sydney church faces eviction after religious protests
Consensus Summary
An LGBTQ+ arts venue called Divine Playhouse, located in a 150-year-old deconsecrated church in Sydney’s central business district, has been ordered to cease operations after religious protests. The venue, which received a $100,000 NSW government grant, opened on July 8 and was immediately met with opposition from Christian groups like Fit for the Kingdom and Prodigal Sons, who accused it of mocking religious faith. Up to 70 protesters gathered outside, and the venue’s Instagram accounts were taken down due to complaints. The landlord issued a notice demanding the venue stop ‘offensive trade’ or face eviction, leading to the cancellation of all events. The dispute has sparked broader debates about artistic freedom, religious sensitivities, and the role of public funding in supporting controversial but culturally significant spaces. The venue was originally named Unholy Playhouse but was renamed Divine Playhouse after concerns were raised, though this did not quell the controversy. Christian groups have demanded the grant be withdrawn and have gathered over 5,000 signatures in support of their cause, while LGBTQ+ advocates argue the venue’s closure sets a dangerous precedent for artistic expression.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Divine Playhouse is a year-long queer-friendly and inclusive arts pop-up in a 150-year-old building deconsecrated in the 1930s
- The venue received a $100,000 NSW government grant from Create NSW
- Up to 70 protesters from Christian and Catholic groups gathered outside Divine Playhouse on July 8
- The venue’s Instagram accounts (Divine Playhouse and Heaps Gay) were taken down due to complaints
- A 21-year-old man was issued a move-on direction during protests on July 8
- The venue was renamed from Unholy Playhouse to Divine Playhouse after concerns from the Christian community
- The landlord ordered Divine Playhouse to cease ‘offensive trade’ by Saturday or risk lease termination
- Christian groups Fit for the Kingdom and Prodigal Sons protested the venue, citing ‘blasphemous’ imagery
- The venue was set to support 1,500 artists, producers, performers, technicians, small creative businesses, and staff
- The venue was to invest $650,000 into the independent arts sector
- An open letter calling for the NSW government to withdraw the $100,000 grant gathered 5,000 signatures
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Lyle Shelton of the Family First party compared children raised by same-sex couples to the Stolen Generations
- Digital rights organisations have warned of queer Instagram accounts being wrongly removed or restricted, with litigation under way in Europe and similar concerns raised by Australian organisations
- The creative sector in Sydney is worth $14 billion
- The church was deconsecrated in the 1930s and later used as a children’s school and a theatre
- The venue was ordered to cease operation within two days after the landlord’s notice of breach
- The church was deconsecrated in 1932 and used as a theatre for the past 70 years
- The venue was ordered to cease ‘offensive trade’ by last Saturday or risk lease termination
- A protest led by Fit for the Kingdom and Prodigal Sons is planned for later this week
- The City of Sydney is considering a proposal to redevelop the church into luxury apartments
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the church was deconsecrated in the 1930s, while the ABC specifies it was deconsecrated in 1932
- The Guardian mentions the venue was ordered to cease operation within two days, while the ABC states it was ordered to cease by last Saturday (no specific date provided)
- The ABC notes the venue was used as a theatre for the past 70 years, while the Guardian does not specify the duration of its use as a theatre
Source Articles
LGBTQ+ pop-up in former Sydney church ordered by landlord to cancel events after religious protest
Landlord of deconsecrated building sends notice of breach to Divine Playhouse, claiming it ‘insulted and mocked’ beliefs of Christian Australians Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A deconsecrated Sydney church newly transformed into an LGBTQ+ venue has had to cancel events and been ordered to stop “engaging in offensive trade” by its landlord after religious groups protested against its opening night. Divine Playho
LGBTQI+ artists have been targeted for ‘insulting Christianity’. To queer people, this feels particularly cruel | James Thorpe
A theatre pop-up in a former Sydney church has been accused of ‘offensive trade’. But if causing offence can lead to eviction, every artist is vulnerable Arts venue faces eviction from former Sydney church after religious groups protest LGBTQ+ events A priest and two nuns walk into a bar. In Sydney this week, this wasn’t the setup for a bad joke but for a fiery culture war. The bar in question is within a long-deconsecrated church , and the City of Sydney is considering an application for its re
Ex-Sydney church turned LGBT nightclub ordered to 'cease offensive trading'
The LGBTQIA+ venue said it was exploring its legal options after being issued with a breach of lease notice just days after opening at a former Sydney church.
Former Sydney church turned LGBTQ+ arts venue weighs legal action after landlord orders it to stop ‘offensive trade’
Divine Playhouse promoter and founder says venue faces significant operational, legal and financial challenges Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A former church turned arts venue at the centre of a culture war is exploring legal action after receiving a notice from its landlord that forced its organisers to close the space and cancel planned events. Divine Playhouse is facing possible eviction, with its landlord ordering the venue’s organisers, Heaps Gay Events, to sto