Former Sydney church turned LGBTQ+ arts venue weighs legal action after landlord orders it to stop ‘offensive trade’

More than 5,000 people have signed a Change.org petition backing Divine Playhouse as an inclusive arts venue. Photograph: Anna Hay View image in fullscreen More than 5,000 people have signed a Change.org petition backing Divine Playhouse as an inclusive arts venue. Photograph: Anna Hay 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 stop “engaging in offensive trade”, days after religious groups protested its opening night. The venue is housed inside a former church in Sydney’s central business district, which was deconsecrated during the 1930s and has mostly been a theatre since. LGBTQI+ artists have been targeted for ‘insulting Christianity’. To queer people, this feels particularly cruel | James Thorpe Read more The pop-up was intended to act as a safe and inclusive queer-friendly arts space, organisers said. But protesters claimed the venue organisers and LGBTQ+ performances on Wednesday’s opening night were mocking religious faith. In a breach notice seen by Guardian Australia, lawyers acting for the landlord – named in the notice as commercial property group KCSYD Pty Ltd – claimed that “the trade … insulted and mocked the sincerely held religious beliefs of millions of Christian Australians”. The Divine Playhouse promoter and founder of Heaps Gay Events, Kat Dopper, maintained the venue acted in good faith, and remained committed to meeting its obligations as tenants as the organisers explore their legal options. “The arts have always been a place where people ask difficult questions, challenge ideas and use humour, satire and performance to reflect on the world around us,” she said in a statement issued to stakeholders. View image in fullscreen Kat Dopper at the launch of Divine Playhouse. Photograph: Anna Hay “Not every work will resonate with every person, but the freedom to make and experience art is part of what makes an open, creative and democratic society. “Our goal is to minimise the negative impacts for these communities and give Divine Playhouse the best possible chance of reopening and continuing to serve Sydney’s creative sector.” Divine Playhouse is now facing significant operational, legal and financial challenges, Dopper said. During its year-long lease, it was set to support more than 1,500 artists, producers, performers, technicians, small creative businesses and staff, and invest $650,000 into the independent arts sector, according to Heaps Gay Events. Sign up for t