Normally there’ll a dozen people standing about, talking to each other, and occasionally flicking a glance your way.

That will not be the scene 16-year-old Olivia Mirrington will face on Saturday night when she plays her first show opening for nine-time Golden Guitar winner Colin Buchanan.

Mirrington is a multi-talented singer-songwriter who has been singing “since I could talk”, and is also a master of the guitar, piano and violin.

She has been writing and performing her own songs for “a couple of years”, and has played a few gigs as background music, but is yet to grace the stage solo. 

“This is my first big stage performance outside of school plays,” she said. 

“I’m quite excited but quite nervous. I’ll channel that those nerves into energy … hopefully.

“Usually I’m pretty good and I can get a hold of the nerves, and I don’t seem that nervous when I’m performing but I am, I just cover it well.”

She was recommended by a friend of a friend to the event promoter, and after sending a few songs off was locked in to playing the 500-seat theatre.  

She writes songs about her life and her thoughts, even though she thinks “it’s pretty boring”.

“It’s what I do best though,” she said. 

She credits a lot of her musical influence to Lorde, who she drove to Sydney to see on Thursday night despite exams looming next week. 

She also enjoys Fleetwood Mac, Missy Higgins, Radiohead and the “mesmerising” voice of London Grammar’s lead singer Hannah Reed, although it’s not an easy question to answer.

“I love all music because you can learn stuff but they’re the big influences,” she said.

Mirrington said she is thankful to her teachers, who are “always so supportive” to help after hours.

And there a plenty of after-hours lessons, with Mirrington playing several hours a day.

“I love it, it’s just what I do,” she said.

She will perform before nine-time Golden Guitar-winning artist Colin Buchanan’s show Calvary Road at the Orange Civic Theatre on Saturday 25 November, 2017.

Buchanan is one of Australia’s most accomplished musicians, and writes songs sharing stories about everyday people and their interaction with their faith and God. 

Tickets are available from the Orange Civic Theatre Box Office, on 6393 8111 or online through Ticketek.