Rhodes University lecturer in the Department of Drama, Gavin Krastin, was recently honoured for his work in theatre and performance with the prestigious Forty under 40 Award. The event was held at the Houghton Hotel earlier this month and hosted and supported by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, the National Youth Development Agency and Xodus Communications.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy President Paul Mashatile explained that the Forty under 40 Awards are curated to identify, honour and celebrate a cross-section of the nation’s most influential and accomplished young leaders under the age of forty from a wide range of industries who are committed to growing and transforming the nation through their respective trailblazing dedication and impact.
Awarding only 40 individuals across all industries in the country, Krastin championed the Theatre and Arts Industry category, which comprised of twelve nominees. Minister of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was the awarding board chairperson and congratulated the winners, reminding them that the award also aims to highlight efforts of social cohesion as the future transformation of the country is the responsibility of the youth.
In his acceptance speech, Krastin asserted, “Performance spaces were the first to close and last to open during the pandemic, (almost) decimating an industry. The approach moving forward in recalibrating, developing and preserving it should be one of collaboration, not competition, with a collective intersectional, inter-industry, inter-sectoral and interdepartmental responsibility.”
In March this year, Krastin was also honoured with a provincial award as “Best Curator” by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture’s Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Awards ceremony for his consistent work in enabling performance and live art expression in the Eastern Cape. Buffalo City Metro Mayor, Princess Faku, said, “The award of home-grown artistic excellence reinforces the department’s commitment to protect the wealth of talent which may so easily be lost to other provinces," while lead adjudicator and convenor Nicki Rayepen commented that “These individuals have demonstrated that they are both creatively brilliant and also managed to organise themselves and their respective groups in a manner that could take them to the next level”.