LGBTQ+ pop-up in former Sydney church ordered to cancel ‘offensive’ events after religious protest

Divine Playhouse opened on Wednesday with the intention of being a safe and inclusive space for artists to work and connect with audiences, its organiser said. Photograph: Anna Hay View image in fullscreen Divine Playhouse opened on Wednesday with the intention of being a safe and inclusive space for artists to work and connect with audiences, its organiser said. Photograph: Anna Hay 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 Playhouse opened last Wednesday with the intention of being a safe and inclusive space for artists to work and connect with audiences, its organiser said. The 150-year-old building, in the heart of Sydney’s central business district, has not been a church since it was deconsecrated in the 1930s. It was later turned into a children’s school and a theatre. The new venue changed its name from Unholy Playhouse at the last minute, after concerns were raised by people from the Christian community. Now the Catholic men’s group Fit for the Kingdom and Christian brotherhood the Prodigal Sons have claimed that the venue itself “mocks religious faith”, with about 70 supporters rallying there on Wednesday night and demanding that the New South Wales government withdraw a $100,000 grant Divine Playhouse received from the state’s arts agency, Create NSW. View image in fullscreen Performers at Divine Playhouse’s opening night last week. Photograph: Anna Hay The next day the landlords sent a notice of breach to the venue’s organiser, Heaps Gay Events, claiming it “insulted and mocked the sincerely held religious beliefs of millions of Christian Australians” and giving it two days to cease operation. The venue cancelled weekend events and its future remains uncertain. The Divine Playhouse and Heaps Gay Instagram accounts have been taken down due to complaints. “We note that the trade carried on by HG Events has been the subject of significant protest and public criticism, given its offensive nature,” says the notice of breach, which has been seen by Guardian Australia. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email It adds: “Such offensive trade has caused, and will continue to cause, grievance and disturbance to owners of adjoining properties and to the general public. “In circumstances where future public protests are almost certain to occur and are likely to endanger members of the public, our client considers that the time by which the offensive trade is to cease is reasonable. Be Seen: North Sydney