Wednesday the 8th of July saw the opening night of Divine Playhouse – a queer-inclusive performance pop-up housed in a former church in central Sydney.
The project aimed to create a space for community to gather and celebrate – but opposition from Christian groups, cultivated on social media, quickly turned it into a culture war flashpoint and a huge headache for organisers.
Behind the story of this venue are questions confronting many gatherings and cultural events in Australian cities. How can diverse community groups claim space for themselves in the face of economic strain, social precarity and political ambivalence?
Image: Feature image: Supplied (Image supplied by Thinking Loud)
Produced By: Aspen Beilharz
Featured in this story: James Thorpe – Sydney’s Odd Culture Group and Night Time Industries Association
Story provided courtesy of The Wire.