Shawn Hoo

Shawn is a journalist on the arts beat at The Straits Times. He reviews books and reports on theatre and the visual arts as well as other cultural issues, for the Life desk. Prior to joining ST in 2022, he spent two years teaching writing and literature at higher education institutions in Shanghai and Singapore. He believes the arts, arts education and arts writing are essential.

Email

Latest articles

Artists worry as Goodman Arts Centre hikes short term rentals by 60 per cent

Artists renting project studios at Goodman Arts Centre have been informed of a rent hike from mid-2026.

Force Majeure’s band of unfulfilled artist siblings aptly opens Pangdemonium’s finale season

London-based, Singapore-born playwright Stephanie Street's Force Majeure transposes Chekhov's Three Sisters (1901) into a story of privileged artist siblings withered by life in a cultural backwater amid profound global changes.

Poetry collections by Cyril Wong and Shilpa Dikshit Thapliyal examine self and identity

Poets Cyril Wong (left) and Shilpa Dikshit Thapliyal.

Actress Jiang Shan shines as Empress Dowager in extravagant palace drama Deling And Cixi

Late Qing palace drama Deling And Cixi featuring actresses Lang Ling (left) and Jiang Shan (right) plays at Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 till Mar 1.

SG Culture Pass can be used for 1,500 SingLit titles at 40 bookstores from March 1

From March 1, readers can use their $100 SG Culture Pass at 40 bookstores islandwide including independent bookstores like Book Bar, which stock over 350 approved titles.

4- and 5-star SingLit books worth your SG Culture Pass credits from March 1

From Mar 1, readers can use their $100 SG Culture Pass credits on eligible Singapore literature books at all of Popular’s outlets.

Women artists take the spotlight with myriad art

Veteran ceramic artist Jessie Lim is returning with her largest solo exhibition to date, with around 200 ceramic pieces.

6 shows to catch for 2026 Singapore theatre season, from Lord Of The Flies to The Christians

Almost all the shows are eligible for SG Culture Pass credits.

The Christians director Glen Goei almost chose full-time church ministry over theatre

Singaporean theatremaker and film director Glen Goei, 63, is directing American playwright Lucas Hnath's The Christians.

Nine Years Theatre on comedy of bad manners God Of Carnage: ‘Civility comes at a huge cost’

The cast of Nine Years Theatre's staging of God Of Carnage includes (from left) Tay Kong Hui, Cavin Soh, Oon Shu An and Mia Chee.

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.