LGBTQ Club Inside Former Church Shut Down

A new LGBTQ pop-up nightclub inside a former Catholic church in Sydney has been ordered to shut down after outraged Christian groups accused organizers of mocking the faith with “blasphemous” imagery, drag performances and an “unholy” brunch event.

Divine Playhouse opened to the public on July 8 inside a deconsecrated church in Sydney’s central business district, but the controversial venue was quickly hit with protests, complaints and a notice from its landlords ordering it to “cease carrying on offensive trade” or risk eviction.

The church was deconsecrated in 1932 and has reportedly been used as a theater for roughly 70 years. But the latest use of the building triggered backlash after LGBTQ event organizers promoted programming that critics said crossed a line from performance art into open religious mockery.

On opening night, about 70 protesters from Catholic and other Christian groups gathered outside the venue. NSW Police said one 21-year-old man was issued a move-on direction and complied.

The controversy escalated over a planned weekend event called Sunday Mess — An Unholy Brunch Party: The Resurrection.

Religious groups, including The Prodigal Sons and Fit For The Kingdom, accused the venue of using imagery that mocked Christianity and called for a $100,000 New South Wales government grant tied to the project to be withdrawn.

For critics, the issue was not simply that an LGBTQ venue was operating inside a former church. It was the use of Catholic and Christian symbolism in a way they viewed as deliberately provocative.

Liam Aquilina, who was outside the venue on opening night, said he was there to “pray against the mockery of our faith.”

He said he was offended by Catholic themes inside the venue, including people dressed as nuns and alcohol reportedly labeled as “unholy water.”

“There was the sale of vodka or tequila labelled as unholy water,” Aquilina told ABC News.

He said his objection was “not the fact that the church has been deconsecrated” or that it was “being used by certain communities,” but the way sacred imagery was allegedly being used.

Aquilina also said he saw some aggressive behavior from “a few boys” outside the venue, including insults yelled toward patrons, but said that was not what the Christian demonstrators stood for.

“That ruins it for the Christian faith as a whole,” he said. “And all of us, most of us condemn that.”

The Prodigal Sons said in a statement that their complaint centered on “imagery and performances that many Christians experience as a deliberate mockery and misuse of sacred Christian symbols.”

“The deliberate use of Christian imagery in a former church, combined with public funding connected to the project, raised legitimate questions that Christians are entitled to ask,” the group said.

“Religious freedom goes both ways. The organisers are free to express their views, and Christians are equally free to respond peacefully, publicly and without apology.”

Divine Playhouse announced Wednesday that all future events had been canceled after what it called “pre-emptive action” by the landlord.

“Following pre-emptive action taken by our landlord, we have been forced to close the venue and cancel all events,” the venue said in a statement.

The venue also claimed Meta shut down its social media accounts, along with accounts belonging to some LGBTQ community groups, including events collective Heaps Gay. Those accounts were later reactivated.

Divine Playhouse defended its programming as art, satire and creative expression.

“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,” the statement said.

“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.”

The venue said it had acted in “good faith” and made changes before opening after hearing concerns.

“While causing offence was not our intention, respectfully, we heard those concerns and in good faith promptly made changes prior to opening,” the statement said.

Heaps Gay Events organizer Kat Dopper, who leased the space for creative use, confirmed the group received a breach notice from the landlord demanding that Divine Playhouse “cease carrying on offensive trade” by the previous Saturday or risk termination of the lease.

Heaps Gay said it is now exploring legal options.

“Our priority has had to be the wellbeing of our artists, audiences, event organisers and staff,” the group said.

The shutdown sparked fierce pushback from LGBTQ advocates, arts leaders and local politicians, who warned that offense should not be enough to close a venue.

City of Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller, who attended opening night, said the council had supported Dopper’s previous work with Heaps Gay and the lease at the former church. She described the transformed venue as “spectacular” and said Sydney’s creative economy depends on spaces like it.

“Anyone who’s lived in Sydney, I think, has seen a drag queen,” Miller said, adding that she had seen “more risque things at Mardi Gras” and even on the street late on a Friday night.

Miller said the city had a proud tradition of supporting LGBTQ art and creativity, and claimed the creative sector in Sydney is worth $14 billion.

Night Time Industries Association vice-chair James Thorpe also criticized the closure, arguing that public offense should not become a tool to silence artists.

“Offence cannot become a mechanism for eviction,” Thorpe said.

“If it can, every artist who challenges power is vulnerable, as is every comedian who mocks a sacred cow and every queer space that refuses to make itself polite and palatable.”

New South Wales Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham called the closure “a step backwards for Sydney.”

“I support peaceful protest but I also expect that protesters will respect the rights of the LGBTQI community to express themselves, and enjoy safe spaces,” Graham said.

“We have lost a lot of venues in Sydney, and we need more performance spaces, not less.”

A NSW government spokesperson said the building had been used as a performance art space for decades, but added that private lease decisions are matters for the parties involved.

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said the controversy should serve as a “wake-up call,” warning that the city’s reputation as a global destination could suffer.

“What has happened with Divine Playhouse is part of a worrying trend and I’m concerned that Sydney’s reputation is suffering as a global city,” Greenwich said.

Greenwich said he plans to convene a roundtable in the coming weeks with venues, promoters, NSW Police, the state government and other stakeholders.

Police said they were aware of another unauthorized protest planned for later in the week and that officers would be present to monitor the situation.

The Prodigal Sons said attendees had been clearly instructed that there must be “no violence, threats, provocation or instigation.”

For now, Divine Playhouse remains closed, its future uncertain, and the fight has turned into a larger battle over religious respect, taxpayer-backed arts funding, LGBTQ expression and just how far “performance art” should be allowed to go before critics are allowed to say enough is enough.