Divine Playhouse Sets Sydney Comeback After Forced Closure

Two months after being forced out of its Kent Street home, the team behind Divine Playhouse has unveiled its next move - a three-night program in October. 

Reimagined as UNHOLY / DIVINE, the team behind the short-lived venue will take over the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in October, bringing together more than 50 independent artists across music, performance, drag and visual art.

Things will kick off on October 8th with Mourn! Weep! Weep! Wail! An Unholy Funeral - The Death of Divine, a one-off event inside the MCA’s Foundation Hall that will symbolically lay Divine Playhouse to rest. Running from 6pm, the night will feature processions, hymns, and performances from artists including Aunty Jonny, Brendan Del La Hay, Divacups, Fei Gao, La Figa, Lesbionica, Nikkita Iman, Porcelain Alice, Stereogamous, and The Bombshells.

Tickets for this event are available here.

UNHOLY / DIVINE will then return as part of the MCA’s Late program for two further events - Bliss! Devotion! Adoration! An Unholy Rebirth - Resurrection and Joy on October 22nd, and Pleasure! Vice! Desire! A Delicious Indisrection - Forbidden Fruits, Confessions and Naughty Arts on October 29th.

Two-for-one tickets for these events are available here. Check out the lineups below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The three-night return marks a new chapter for Divine Playhouse following its forced closure in July.

The LGBTQIA+ arts and live music venue opened at 420 Kent Street on July 8th, occupying a heritage-listed former church that had been deconsecrated in the 1930s and later operated as a theatre for decades. It was intended to operate for a year as a new cultural space for Sydney artists and communities.

But following protests from Christian groups over its programming, Divine Playhouse was issued a breach notice by its landlord directing operator Heaps Gay Events to “cease engaging in offensive trade”. Its lease was subsequently terminated, forcing the venue out of the building only days after it opened.

At the time, founder Kat Dopper vowed the project would continue. “This isn’t about Divine versus Revelop. It’s so much bigger. If a landlord’s personal beliefs can shut down an arts venue, no stage in this country is safe. Who decides what art is acceptable? Right now, the answer is whoever owns the building. That’s why we’re fighting this – not just for Divine Playhouse, but for you,” she said.

The closure sparked a significant show of public support. More than 2,000 people gathered in Hyde Park later that month for a protest featuring performances, speeches and singalongs, while almost 20,000 people had signed a petition supporting Divine Playhouse by the end of July.

“After two months of blood, sweat and tears, the doors are closed. But then today happened – a park filled with love,” Dopper said following the protest. “And this is where community wins. Thank you to everyone who has stood with us these past couple of weeks. It was never just about the building – it’s about the art and the people. So Divine Playhouse will live on. We’re only just getting started.”

For complete event and ticket information, see here. 

UNHOLY / DIVINE AT MCA 2026

Thursday, October 8th
Mourn! Weep! Weep! Wail! An Unholy Funeral - The Death of Divine
MCA Foundation Hall, Sydney NSW

Lineup: 
Aunty Jonny · Brendan Del La Hay · Divacups · Fei Gao · Ian Thomas · Jessica Dunn · La Figa · Lesbionica · Like Like Like · Neil Beatie · Nikkita Iman · Porcelain Alice · Skye Gellmann · Stereogamous · The Bombshells

Thursday, October 22nd
Bliss! Devotion! Adoration! An Unholy Rebirth - Resurrection and Joy
MCA, Sydney NSW

Lineup: 
Angels Only DJs · Anso · Boye Sivan · Cheryn Frost & Emma Kew · El Beauty · Gogo Bumhole · La Figa · Matt Vaughan · Ruby Teys & Sharon Manhattan · Sparkles Is Back · Unholy Drag Choir · Victoria Falcona

Thursday, October 29th
Pleasure! Vice! Desire! A Delicious Indisrection - Forbidden Fruits, Confessions and Naughty Arts 
MCA, Sydney NSW

Lineup: 
Augie · Basija · Charlie Villas · Cyrus · Fetu · Glory Holiness with Jamie James · Godsexkidofacid · Jiggy · La Figa · Leen Reith · Mama Medusa · Sexy Galexy · Sharon Manhattan · Sharkie · Venus

From Rolling Stone AU/NZ