In July, Sydney's art scene was rocked when brand-new arts space Divine Playhouse was evicted from the deconsecrated church it had moved into just days earlier. With the venue imagined as an inclusive space for, but not exclusive to, the LGBTQIA+ community, local religious groups claimed the venue's irreverent use of religious iconography amounted to mockery. Two months later, the Kat Dopper-run venue is gearing up for a comeback with UNHOLY / DIVINE at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Held across three distinct nights this October, more than 50 independent artists will showcase what the short-lived Kent Street space was intended to be all about, alongside a full-blown celebration of difference, dissent and divine mischief ready to launch. First up, 'An Unholy Funeral – The Death of Divine' takes over the MCA's Foundation Hall on Thursday, October 8, serving up a tongue-in-cheek wake dedicated to the venue. Expect processions, hymns and performance spaces curated by artists until late, ending with an auction of the artworks displayed to raise funds for Divine Playhouse and Heaps Gay, Dopper's arts and events organisation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DIVINE PLAYHOUSE (@divineplayhouse.syd) Then, on Thursday, October 22, it's time for the resurrection. Bringing an equally subversive perspective, 'An Unholy Rebirth – Resurrection and Joy' serves as an invitation to a heavenly awakening. Stacked with another huge lineup of creative talent like the Unholy Drag Choir, this evening is trading in the bad juju for eternal bliss. Attendees are encouraged to get decked out in their best taffeta garments. The series of divine intervention rounds out on Thursday, October 29. For its final benediction, indulgence is the theme of the night and tasting the forbidden fruit is strictly encouraged. With the chance to confess your sins and "very naughty art" on the agenda, this debaucherous occasion will lean into the sexual and delightfully obscene. "When a small venue disappears, the city doesn't just lose a room. It loses a place where grassroots artists can test ideas, communities can gather and culture can be born before it reaches the mainstream. I am delighted that the MCA has offered to open its doors and let artists be heard," says Dopper. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Anna Hay.
