Sydney’s Divine Playhouse is officially rising from the dead, with more than 50 independent artists set to reunite for three nights of “creative freedom, dissent and divine mischief” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
The new event series, dubbed UNHOLY / DIVINE, marks a triumphant new chapter for the queer arts and performance community following the controversial closure of Divine Playhouse earlier this year.
“Three nights of collective creativity, artistic freedom and divine mischief across October.”
The pop-up arts venue had taken over a 150-year-old former church on Kent Street in Sydney’s CBD, only to have its lease terminated following a conservative Christian protest campaign against the space.
Now, its artists are reassembling inside one of Australia’s major contemporary art institutions for three very appropriately themed nights spanning death, resurrection and delicious indiscretion.
First up on Thursday, 8th October is MOURN! WEEP! WAIL! An Unholy Funeral – The Death of Divine!, a one-off event taking over the MCA’s Foundation Hall.
Designed to formally lay the memories of Divine Playhouse to rest, the five-hour funeral party will feature processions, hymns and artist-curated performance spaces, with attendees encouraged to don their finest high-fashion funeral veils.
The lineup includes Aunty Jonny, Brendan Del La Hay, Divacups, Fei Gao, Ian Thomas, Jessica Dunn, La Figa, Lesbionica, Like Like Like, Neil Beatie, Nikkita Iman, Porcelain Alice, Skye Gellmann, Stereogamous and The Bombshells.
Then, naturally, comes the resurrection.
On Thursday, 22nd October, BLISS! DEVOTION! ADORATION! An Unholy Rebirth – Resurrection and Joy will spread throughout the MCA for a night dedicated to ditching the bad juju in favour of joy, expression and a little divine intervention.
Angels Only DJs, Anso, Boye Sivan, Cheryn Frost & Emma Kew, El Beauty, Gogo Bumhole, La Figa, Matt Vaughan, Ruby Teys & Sharon Manhattan, Sparkles Is Back, Unholy Drag Choir and Victoria Falcona are among the artists taking part.
Finally, things get decidedly naughtier on Thursday, 29th October with PLEASURE! VICE! DESIRE! A Delicious Indiscretion – Forbidden Fruits, Confessions and Naughty Arts.
That final instalment promises an evening of temptation, secrets, confessions and “very naughty art”, featuring Augie, Basija, Charlie Villas, Cyrus, Fetu, Glory Holiness with Jamie James, Godsexkidofacid, Jiggy, La Figa, Leen Reith, Mama Medusa, Sexy Galexy, Sharon Manhattan, Sharkie and Venus.
Together, the three events will bring more than 50 independent artists into the MCA for a celebration of difference, dissent and creative freedom – giving the Divine Playhouse community a pretty spectacular new stage after the loss of its original home.
UNHOLY / DIVINE – MCA Australia 2026
Thursday, 8th October – MOURN! WEEP! WAIL! An Unholy Funeral – The Death of Divine!
Foundation Hall, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
6pm–11pm | 18+ | Tickets $69
Thursday, 22nd October – BLISS! DEVOTION! ADORATION! An Unholy Rebirth – Resurrection and Joy
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
6pm–10pm | 2-for-1 tickets $35
Thursday, 29th October – PLEASURE! VICE! DESIRE! A Delicious Indiscretion – Forbidden Fruits, Confessions and Naughty Arts
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
6pm–10pm | 2-for-1 tickets $35
Further Reading
An 184-Year-Old Law Has Just Been Used To Push Queer Culture Out Of A Sydney Venue
Sydney Keeps Saying It Wants A Nightlife. Then It Shuts Down The People Creating One
A 150-Year-Old Sydney Church Is Being Reborn As A Wild New Live Music Venue
