She’s acted — originally 37 years ago — and also been backstage crew, a committee member and even president for three years.
However, as for being a director, "I never thought I had the skills to do it".
Recently turned 50, she was blessed with a very musical background as the daughter of legendary entertainer, the late Kevin Lynch.
It saw her and three younger brothers learning instruments from the age of two or three.
Emma grew up in Dunedin but was about seven when her family moved to Arrowtown.
Her mum Jenny’s dad was farming character Jack Dagg, and the family settled on what’s now Millbrook’s 16th green, but used to be Dagg’s shearing quarters.
"I learned to drive on the 16th green."
For $100 a pop, she’d sing many of the radio jingles her dad wrote.
She attended Arrowtown School then, initially, Wakatipu High, and in ’89 played orphan Duffy in Showbiz’s Annie, though she thinks she should have been Annie.
Bored of country living, she begged her parents to let her go to Dunedin’s St Hilda’s, which she attended from year 10.
Emma says when she told the school’s career adviser she wanted to go to a performing arts school, she was told "why would you do that, you won’t make any money".
Instead, wanting to leave Otago, she went to Canterbury’s Lincoln University, studying parks, recreation, tourism management and a bit of event management.
She helped out Queenstown Winter Festival director Simon Green for a year, but then went overseas for five years, teaching English in Japan before "working shitty jobs" in London.
She met Kiwi husband-to-be Mark Pullar there, then stayed another year before returning to Arrowtown.
From 2002, Emma took various roles in Showbiz musicals, starting as a narrator in Joseph.
At her dad’s suggestion she and her siblings formed family band The Lynch Mob.
"We were very lucky with dad working in the corporate market [often as his bumbling alter ego, Len the Loser] and he would get us lots of gigs."
Kevin also wrote the music (and David John the lyrics) for goldfields musical Rush!, which she performed for Showbiz — interestingly, it’s being performed in Cromwell this year.
Emma also worked for Kevin’s event company, History Alive, in which Arrowtown’s main street would be closed to entertain American incentive tours, especially.
"It was fun, but it’s not as easy just to do that these days."
She also had children — Oscar, now 19, and Ruby, 17.
Emma says she was pregnant with Ruby when playing a pregnant Rizzo in Grease — "I had to do a tumble on stage and everyone was like, ‘oh my god, be careful"’.
Given Ruby’s pre-birth experience, it’s maybe not surprising she’s become hugely talented in performing arts herself — she starred as Elle Woods in Wakatipu High’s Legally Blonde this year, and her mum’s directing her in 9 to 5.
Kevin sadly died in 2010, aged 60, but days before saw the Lynch Mob play Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon which he’d challenged them to perform.
Emma returned to the Showbiz stage 10 years ago as Grace in Annie while Ruby debuted as Molly.
She was pulled on to the Showbiz committee by stalwart Marty Newell, and later handed the presidency when her predecessor took a lead role.
She in turn stepped down to direct 9 to 5.
"I’d never really considered trying to direct.
"I’d kind of thought maybe I should try and shadow a director one day, but I never did and here we are now.
"I’ve had a few moments going, ‘wow, I’ve got no idea what I’m doing, are we going to have a show?"’
However, she’s had so much support, she says, so the show, as they say, will go on.
Emma admits she’s not a "shouty" director.
"A lot of directors, I’ve been shaking in my boots, but I’m not naturally a growly person unless I’m really pissed off.
"But it’s been a really fun process actually working with everyone involved and everyone’s been so supportive."
With rehearsals ramping up she put her ‘out of office’ on last Friday at husband Mark’s Roost Mortgage Brokers where she’s business operations manager — "or actually the CEO".
Emma’s delighted to be directing "a funny, joyful show".
"The 9 to 5 journey has taken over my dining room table, the spare bedroom and the garage for the better part of a year.
"My family’s unconditional love, support and tolerance has also made this possible."
So, million dollar question, would she do it again?
"I guess once you’ve done something, once you know what the road is ... . maybe, maybe."
