Unsung Heroes: How Emma Louise Nisbet is shaping the next generation of South West talent

No one is going to rain on the parade of one Scottish songstress who has journeyed more than 14,000km to share her love of theatre with the people of Busselton. Emma Louise Nisbet is a name not soon to be forgotten in the South West preforming arts community, helping pave the way for budding performers with her rich history and training in the world of musical theatre. Born and raised in Scotland as one of seven children, the singer admits she “doesn’t remember a time she didn’t sing,” looking up to the likes of Steps’ Claire Richards and S Club 7 vocalist Jo O’Meara. But one particular artist stood out above the rest, powerhouse singer/actress Barbra Streisand who, despite having never met her, Emma says has helped her “more than she’ll ever know.” “I always love singing... it was just my thing, my brothers would go and play their PlayStation or go watch TV and I went into my room and put on an album and sing and make-up dance routines,” she recalled. “I had certain singers that I loved, and I always loved them because they had really strong voices... but Barbra Streisand is like my absolute god - she’s my favourite, she’s just amazing, not just as a singer but everything.” A self-taught singer as a result of these bedroom world-tours, her passion soon brought her to the stage when she was cast as the titular role in a local production of Annie - a role that is easily every young girl’s dream. This one show lit the spark for a life-long love of theatre, a passion that never once wavered throughout her schooling days, soon leading her to join the inaugural Musical Theatre class at the University of the West of Scotland. Focusing largely on the technical aspect of singing, she said her studies enabled her to further enhance and “manipulate” her voice. “It basically just gave me the definition, and made me understand what I was doing, even though I was already doing it,” she said. “I found it all so interesting, and I get so excited explaining it to people now but knowing that information just meant that I could manipulate (my voice) more easily.” Her powerhouse vocals led her to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall stage, earning her a regular spot in their annual ‘Classic Musicals’ concert singing some of Broadway’s most renowned showtunes alongside a 50-piece orchestra for crowds of thousands. Unsure of where to go after her studies, her world turned upside down when a distant cousin visiting from Busselton encouraged her to take a leap of faith and move across the globe in 2015. Though an admittedly “absolutely terrifying” experience, she said it was a defining moment in her life. “It was the first time probably ever in my life that I didn’t ask anyone’s opinion,” she said triumphantly. “I just sat on it for a couple of days myself and then I thought ‘you know what? I’m just gonna do it, what do I have to lose?’” Living in the sunny coastal town for two years, including three months of “character building” farm work as required by her visa, she had a short stint in Sydney but soon realised her heart lay in the South West. “I do love Busselton,” she said. “Australia is for me is everything I love like the sunshine, and I love the lifestyle, I love how sociable everyone is, being a part of the community. “I definitely made the right choice coming back to Busselton.” Everything falling into place, it was long before local drama school Acting Up began seeking a music teacher — a position the-now 33-year-old still holds to this day. Expressing nothing but gratitude for the not-fo-profit, she said the group and its coordinators were instrumental in helping her obtain her permanent residency in Australia, and allowing her to share her passion for the arts. Watching her students grow - both vocally and physically - has been what she can only describe as a “beautiful, bittersweet” experience. “I really enjoy the process of watching them grow,” she smiled. “I’ve had heaps of the kids that have been with me and are now teenagers are going off to university and I’m just so proud. “I always want to just help them have self belief and knowing that they can do it, because I think that is the stop for a lot of people.” Not only teaching the arts, she has brought to life many notable stage productions - including the studio’s most recent production of Seussical the Musical - taking on the role of director/musical director and choreographer, a shift she said was “kind of awesome.” “When I was the actor, I always had things like, I didn’t agree with so it was quite nice to have the power but be able to imagine things from a performer’s perspective. “I think it helps me like connect with my cast better as well because I’m more particular for them and wouldn’t ask them to do something that I wasn’t prepared to do myself in a performance.” One show near to her heart was the 2021 production of ‘A Song Remembers When’ - a musical devised herself, celebrating theatre and bringing together community members of all ages. She has also used her time onstage to support many local causes, singing the national anthem at a variety of community events from Australia Day to the Jetty Swim, but also creating shows to raise awareness of mental health within the community. “I always feel like I have a voice for a reason and we have our struggles for a reason, so it’s nice to be able to use that to kind of give back a bit,” she said. “There’s just something about music as well, that gets people to a place where words can’t.” Ms Nisbet is ”over the moon” about the developing performing arts centre, in hopes it will provide the local community with more exposure to professional theatre and help nurture often overlooked careers in the arts. “Hopefully with the arts centre, shows will come down all the time and people that couldn’t afford to drive to Perth to see a show might actually be able to do it,” she said. “Schools might get funding so they can take a whole class or a whole year group to go and see a production — those are some of my favourite memories from high school. “I just think for them to have opportunities like that down here, it’s going to be absolutely amazing.”