LGBTQIA+ arts space Divine Playhouse fights landlord eviction

Divine Playhouse, a whimsical arts space located in a deconsecrated church in Sydney, has been fined for “offensive merchandising”. brain child Mass Gay community and its founder Kat Dopper’s idea was to reside in one place for a year and showcase a continuous festival of LGBTQIA+ friendly events with the aim of being welcoming, accessible and inclusive to everyone.

However, shortly after the grand opening, which was attended by NSW Arts Minister John Graham (the NSW government had provided significant grant funding for the theatre) and angry Christian groups who were there to protest outside, the billionaire landlords behind 420 Kent Street quickly closed the venue and threw Heaps Gay out.