Lydia Shah

MA Creative Writing

2025

Lydia is a documentary director, writer and producer based in Singapore.

She has over a decade of experience in broadcast television, creating both long-form and short-form factual content. Her work has been featured regionally and internationally on networks such as Channel NewsAsia, National Geographic Channel and VICE Asia.

Beyond filmmaking, Lydia is committed to nurturing the next generation of creative storytellers as a media educator at LASALLE College of the Arts. She also hosts the podcast Write & Eat, building a supportive community for screenwriters in Southeast Asia. In 2022, she expanded her creative practice with the publication of her debut graphic novel, Licence to Care (Epigram Books).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-shah-3434a293

ldyshah@gmail.com

Thesis work

Island Affairs is an excerpt of a short story collection that explores the emotional entanglements of individuals in modern-day Singapore. The stories unpack one’s internal conflict between Asian values that prioritise collectivism, social harmony and authority, while negotiating modern ideals that emphasise autonomy and individuality.

The two stories delve into the inner monologues of characters grappling with loneliness, duty, shame and intimacy. 'Toy Shop' reveals a surprising view of Singapore society through the lens of an adult store owner, wrestling with sibling rivalry, sexual dysfunction and emotional repression. 'Island South of Port Dickson' explores the unexpected relationship between the protagonist and an expat afflicted with a chronic disease—revealing a critique on societal pressures, filial piety and parental control. Both stories touch on quiet, middle-aged rebellion, seeking internal validation and the reclamation of autonomy amidst the loneliness epidemic.

School of Creative
Industries

Lydia Shah

Thesis work

Work experience