Divine Playhouse

A Sydney venue in a 150-year-old former church has cancelled every event on its calendar after Landlord Revelop issued Divine Playhouse a breach notice following Christian groups' protests at its opening night, giving it two days to "cease engaging in offensive trade" or risk losing its lease. 

Fran Giapanni started a petition arguing the closure would "set a very scary precedent" for who gets to hold cultural space in Sydney, and it's picked up over 17,000 signatures in under 24 hours. 

Chris Nave started a separate petition over the venue's $100,000 NSW Government grant, saying the venue “deliberately uses Christian symbols, language and themes” in a way that many Christians perceive as insensitive, which has passed 6,000 signatures. Both are still climbing as the dispute plays out. 

You can read more and find both petitions below.