It took months for an LGBTQ+ arts pop-up to resurrect an old church – but just three days to shut it down

Gogo and Aunty Jonny Hawkins were among those helping pack up the Divine Playhouse. The group were given until 5pm on Friday to vacate the premises. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

It takes months of love and care to make an empty building come alive, but only three days to tear it all down.

This week, the gothic signage and queer absurdist art commissioned for Divine Playhouse had to be removed and placed into storage, as volunteers whitewashed a vibrant mural that had been painted on its walls.