Oh Sweet Nothing

Theater director and documentary filmmaker Lara van Hoof received a grant for the development of a new theater performance, in collaboration with performer and theater maker Mirthe Labree. In Oh Sweet Nothing, they walk alongside an imaginary dog and a film camera. Absurd scenes in desolate landscapes; personal conversations about lost loves and longing for connection; silly jokes born of boredom; unexpected encounters; and a woman alone, calling out for her lost dog. Lara and Mirthe explore how theater, fiction, and documentary can intertwine while keeping themselves in motion. And the woman alone keeps calling into the great void, for something that will never return.

Lara and Mirthe met in 2016 and quickly discovered a shared love for absurdism, physical play, and abstraction. Mirthe performed in several of Lara’s productions, including Zo voel ik me ook wel eens, Drie zussen, and BAASJES. As artists, they move between the boundaries of theater and visual art, connecting through personal themes that examine how humans relate to life’s absurdity. With Oh Sweet Nothing, Lara and Mirthe take a new step in their collaboration as a duo.