An LGBTQ arts and nightlife venue that opened inside a former Sydney church has been forced to shut its doors and cancel upcoming events after less than a week of operation, following protests by religious groups and a formal breach notice issued by its landlord. Divine Playhouse, located on Kent Street in the Sydney CBD, opened on 8 July 2026 — only to find dozens of Christian protesters gathered outside that same evening.
What Is Divine Playhouse and Why Did It Spark Controversy?
Divine Playhouse was established by the organisation Heaps Gay with the stated aim of creating a space where artists, performers, audiences and communities could connect through culture and creativity. The venue occupies a former church building that was deconsecrated in the 1930s and has since served primarily as a theatre and arts space.
Almost immediately, the venue drew sharp criticism from Christian groups, who accused performers of using holy figures and religious rituals in what they described as "mock" and "blasphemous" acts. Outrage was further fuelled by the revelation that the venue had received a $100,000 taxpayer-funded grant to support events, including one billed as Sunday Mess — An Unholy Brunch Party: The Resurrection.
One protester who gathered outside described their presence as praying "against the mockery of our Catholic faith". The group known as The Prodigal Sons announced plans for a follow-up "prayer vigil" outside the venue, saying they were gathering to "defend the dignity of the Christian faith".
Landlord Issues Breach Notice, Venue Forced to Close
Within days of opening, Heaps Gay received a breach notice from the building's landlord ordering them to "cease carrying on offensive trade". In response, Divine Playhouse announced it had been compelled to close and postpone all upcoming events.
In a public statement, the organisation said the closure followed "pre-emptive action" by the landlord, and emphasised that the wellbeing of its artists, audiences, event organisers and staff was its immediate priority.
"We strongly believe we have acted in good faith throughout this whole process and remain committed to meeting our obligations as tenants and working towards a constructive resolution," the statement read.
Divine Playhouse also defended the broader role of the arts, noting that creative spaces have always been places where people "ask difficult questions, challenge ideas and use humour, satire and performance to reflect on the world around us". The organisation said causing offence was never its intention and vowed to pursue every possible avenue to reopen.
A legal representative from law firm Dowson Turco noted that any recourse available to Heaps Gay would depend on the terms of the lease and the specific grounds the landlord cited in the breach notice.
Government Scrutiny and Community Backlash
The controversy has drawn political attention as well. NSW Premier Chris Minns indicated the state government was examining the Create NSW grant application that helped secure funding for Divine Playhouse, saying it was "hard to believe" the former church was the "best location" for the venue's programming, and pointing out there were millions of alternative spaces available across NSW and Australia.
A community petition was also launched calling on the NSW government to apologise to the Christian community and withdraw any support for the venue. The petition's organiser argued the venue's branding "deliberately uses Christian symbols, language and themes" in a manner many Christians consider deeply disrespectful.
Arts Community Rallies Behind Divine Playhouse
Despite the pressure to close, Divine Playhouse has attracted vocal support from within the arts world. Musician Ben Lee and comedian Josh Thomas both publicly backed the venue on social media, while artist Monica Higgins launched a crowdfunding campaign to help Heaps Gay manage mounting costs.
"Sydney has lost too many creative venues already," Higgins said. "Whatever your views on queer culture, coordinated campaigns that seek to silence LGBTQIA+ organisations and shut down independent cultural spaces should concern all of us."
Heaps Gay has indicated it is currently exploring its legal options and remains determined to reopen the venue.
