Coming Soon: Unholy Playhouse Is Indulging the Irreverent, Taking Over a Historic Church with Art, Food and After-Dark Parties
The pews are gone, but the party's arrived as this former church transforms into a gloriously irreverent after-dark venue.
Standing on Kent Street in Sydney CBD since 1858, St John the Evangelist Church is entering a new chapter — one like never before — with the launch of Unholy Playhouse. With aspirations to become Sydney's most irreverent nightlife destination, this now deconsecrated space is ready to be reborn as Sydney's newest performance venue, creative arts space and bar.
Guided by Kat Dopper, the multidisciplinary arts practitioner behind local nights and pop-ups like Heaps Gay and Pleasures Playhouse, the heritage-listed church will now serve as a meeting ground for art, culture, pleasure and community, with mostly debaucherous and hedonistic fun in mind. That means late-night cabaret, showtune sing-alongs, and perhaps a live exorcism or two.
AM//PM. Image: Supplied.
"Artists and audiences need sacred spaces, places where art, community and human connection can happen outside of our everyday lives. Dancefloors as worship, art as activism and culture as a shared experience. Unholy Playhouse is for the unpolished, the unique, the quirky and the emerging…artists with something to share," says Dopper.
With a vibe shifting from night to night, the venue kicks off proceedings with a free Wednesday experience stacked with live local bands, comedians and speakeasy drinks. Then, from Thursday to Saturday, happy hour runs 5–7pm, leading into a rotating roster of events from renowned arts collectives and performers, drawing from all corners of Sydney's eclectic nightlife scene.
RONA. Image: Bonny Scott.
Think parties from stalwarts like Fredas, Heaps Gay, Kerfew, Music NSW and AM//PM, plus over 140 artists, musicians and DJs such as Noah Hill, RONA. Mincy, Setwun, The DeepFaith, BODY TYPE, ENNARIA, Total Tommy, Cult Shotta, Kidskin, Holiday Sidewinder. Finally, the weekend rounds out with Sunday Mass — an unholy brunch brimming with divine mischief.
Plus, Unholy Playhouse levels up the pleasure with dedicated food residencies every Sunday. Up first, Newtown institution Bloodwood takes over, pouring Unholy Water — a gin crafted locally at Marrickville's Ester distillery. What's more, $1 from every Unholy Water sold gets reinvested into the venue's artist grant program, helping fund new creative works and performances.
The Door List. Image: Supplied.
Unholy Playhouse opens Wednesday, July 8 at 422-424 Kent Street. Head to the website for more information.
Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Top image: Supplied.
- The 12 Best Walks In and Around Sydney
- Sydney's Best Bottomless Brunches
- CP Picks: The Best Gifts for People Who Are Never Home — According to Travel Writers
- The Ten Best Hotels in Brisbane
- The Nine Best Coastal Spots for Whale Watching Across Australia
- The Best Things to Do This Anzac Day in Sydney