- The Guardian
- Issue #2200
The Media, Entertainment, & Arts Alliance (MEAA) stands in support of Sydney’s queer performance venue Divine Playhouse and its staff following its recent forced closure.
Following a public protest campaign by extremist Christian groups, “Fit for the Kingdom” and “The Prodigal Sons,” Heaps Gay Events, tenants of 420 Kent St in Sydney’s CBD, were served a breach notice by their landlord characterising Divine Playhouse events as “offensive trade.”
Charley Allanah, Co-Chair of the MEAA Entertainment Diversity Committee, said that the idea that Divine Playhouse is somehow incompatible with the history of this building ignores nearly a century of its evolution as a cultural venue.
The venue, a small former church, was deconsecrated in 1932, when the building was handed to Genesius – patron saint of actors. It has since spent nearly 70 years as the Genesian Theatre, staging hundreds of theatrical productions of all kinds, and launching careers including those of John Bell, Bryan Brown, and Baz Luhrmann.
“It has been 94 years since the building had any connection to its religious origins beyond its architectural style. Across the country, former churches have been transformed into thriving arts and community spaces, including Melbourne’s Chapel Off Chapel, where diverse programming and LGBTQAI+ artists are welcomed without incident. Divine Playhouse is continuing that same tradition of creativity, inclusion and artistic expression,” Alannah added.
In a public statement, The Prodigal Sons claim a double standard exists in the treatment of Christian heritage, contending that similar conversions of religious buildings of other faiths would never be publicly funded or culturally tolerated. They’re considering a complaint under antidiscrimination law.
That claim is negated by the presence of commercial retail in the former Fremantle Synagogue (WA), an events and function space in the Maitland Synagogue (NSW) and a museum in Broken Hill Mosque (NSW).
“The strength of Australia’s arts sector depends on vibrant, diverse cultural spaces where workers can build careers, develop their craft and connect with audiences. Venues like Divine Playhouse play an essential role in making that possible,” said Allanah.
The Prodigal Sons are also calling on Create NSW, Sound NSW and the City of Sydney to strip Divine Playhouse of more than $100,000 of government funding – funds awarded in impartial, arms-length, peer-assessed funding processes.
MEAA stands proudly with Divine Playhouse and Heaps Gay Events, stands against artistic censorship, and against the silencing of cultural minorities, wherever these injustices occur.
PARASITE OF THE WEEK: is Bendigo Bank (again). Bendigo Bank’s strategy to kill off its Australian-based operations has taken a ghoulish turn with its Deceased Estates team now at risk of being offshored. Previously excluded from the Bank’s offshoring agenda, the Bank has today commenced “blueprinting” in the Deceased Estates team.
Bendigo Bank has already used blueprinting in other areas of the bank to send jobs to global outsourcing giant Genpact. Blueprinting involves employees demonstrating how they perform their work so that offshore workers from Genpact can do it.
The Finance Sector Union (FSU) believes blueprinting could also pave the way for customer service functions of the Deceased Estates team to be offshored. Staff in Deceased Estates are the first point of contact for families sorting out the financial affairs of a loved one after their death.
This comes as the Banking Code Compliance Committee called on banks to do more to manage deceased estates following recommendations from a 2023 review.
The review stated that managing deceased estates is a “core responsibility” and all banks must ensure that processes are accurate, timely and easy to navigate and correct errors before they cause further distress.
Around 50 predominantly South Australian staff were shown the door last week as the so-called “better big bank” continued its 2030 strategy of putting profits before people. The total number of Bendigo Bank roles that have disappeared overseas is now 450.
