A controversial LGBTQIA+ nightclub operating inside a former Sydney church has ceased operations just three days after its opening, with organizers attributing the closure to a campaign by Christian activists and a landlord's decision to terminate the lease.
The venue's lawyers are reportedly exploring potential claims for damages and sex discrimination, asserting that the lease termination was based on an obscure 1840s law concerning 'offensive trade' that has not been tested in court.
Organizers from Heaps Gay and Divine Playhouse stated that supporters have raised nearly $50,000 to fund a legal battle and cover losses. "After two months of blood, sweat and tears, the doors are closed," said Kat Dopper, founder of Heaps Gay and Divine Playhouse. "It was never just about the building - it's about the art and the people."
Christian groups, including Fit for the Kingdom and the Prodigal Sons, have publicly criticized the venue's events, branding them as "hateful blasphemy" and calling for the revocation of a $100,000 arts grant from the NSW Government. Critics, such as Chris Nave who started a petition opposing Divine Playhouse, argue that while freedom of expression is important, taxpayer funds should not support the ridicule of any faith, referencing what he described as "Christ-phobia."
Catholic content creator Liam Aquilina voiced similar sentiments, describing the venue as a "mockery" of his faith. He specifically criticized images from the opening night that depicted drag queens dressed as nuns and a performer distributing French fries as holy communion. "We have nothing against queer people, in fact, we have nothing against queer people using a deconsecrated church," Aquilina stated. "But what we do have is the mockery of our Catholic faith and our Eucharist."
Lawyers for the venue's operators argue that the eviction notice lacks solid legal standing. Michael Bradley, managing partner at Marque Lawyers, noted that the concept of "offensive trade" historically relates to public nuisances like noxious smells, not moral objections. "It's never been applied to moral offensiveness in the way the landlord is seeking to do," Bradley told The Guardian. "We don't doubt that the landlord is offended by what Heaps Gay was doing, but that's a subjective personal question."
The former Catholic church on Kent Street was purchased for $17 million in 2023 by Revelop co-founders Anthony El-Hazouri and Charbel Hazzouri. Since being deconsecrated nearly a century ago, it has also served as a children's school and a theatre.
In response to the closure, thousands of Sydneysiders participated in a mass "sing-in" demonstration in Hyde Park in support of Divine Playhouse and its operators. Sydney's Deputy Lord Mayor, Jess Miller, attended the opening night and spoke about the venue's potential. Lord Mayor Clover Moore stated that while people of faith should be respected, "disagreement should never become intimidation" and that the city must defend freedom of creative expression. Moore has also initiated an investigation into finding another potential space for Divine Playhouse.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann has urged the NSW Government to provide emergency funding and assistance in securing a new venue. John Graham, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, called the closure "a step backwards for Sydney," emphasizing the need for more performance spaces in the city and supporting the right of the LGBTQI community to express themselves safely.