WhosOnTrend: The most viewed stage names in January 2026

Believe it or not, folks, we made it through January!

Some incredible cast announcements – including those opening up at the diner or signing up for Harvard Law – and new productions have got the year off to a fantastic start. Due to the sheer volume of news stories this month, we’ve grouped performers appearing in the same shows together to share the limelight.

For those unfamiliar, each month we collate the most-viewed performers, directors, and more, viewed in our ever-growing Stage Names directory. Here they are, in alphabetical order…

The cast of Avenue Q

The sun is shining, it’s a lovely day… to meet the residents of Avenue Q! For its 20th anniversary, the fan-favourite musical is heading back to London. Bringing those puppets to life will be Emily Benjamin as Kate Monster and Lucy The Sl*t, Noah Harrison as Princeton and Rod, Meg Hateley as Mrs T and Bad Idea Bear, Oliver Jacobson as Brian, Charlie McCullagh as Nicky, Trekkie Monster and Bad Idea Bear, Amelia Kinu Muus as Christmas Eve and Dionne Ward-Anderson as Gary Coleman.

Matt Cardle

“Everybody say Yeah!” Matt Cardle is stepping into “The Land of Lola” as Kinky Boots arrives back in London in a couple of months. He’ll play Charlie Price opposite Johannes Radebe‘s Lola.

Amena El-Kindy and Kristian Cunningham

Your newest Audrey and Seymour have arrived! The duo will be heading downtown in a new actor-musician revival of Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Derby Theatre’s artistic director and CEO Sarah Brigham. Excitingly, this production will integrate creative captions throughout every performance.

The cast of Hadestown

New little songbirds are going way down Hadestown as the fan favourite show enters its third year in the West End. Props to all of the principal cast: Rachel Adedeji, who will join the company as Persephone, with Bethany Antonia as Eurydice, Marley Fenton as Orpheus, Alastair Parker as Hades, and Clive Rowe as Hermes, for being “Epic”!

The cast of Legally Blonde

Things are getting “Serious”! The full cast of Legally Blonde, joining Amber Davies in the UK tour, was announced, and every single one of the principals made their way into this prestigious list! In case you missed it, joining the cast are Hannah Lowther as Margot and the alternate Elle Woods, George Crawford as Emmett, Karen Mavundukure as Paulette, Adam Cooper as Callahan, Jamie Chatterton as Warner, Annabelle Terry as Vivienne, Jocasta Almgill as Brooke, Rosanna Harris as Serena and Remi Ferdinand as Pilar. If there ever was a perfect cast, this one qualifies!

Sally Ann Matthews

Sally Ann Matthews is stepping into a WhatsOnStage Award-nominated new musical! She’ll join the cast of Here and Now as Patricia as the Steps musical makes its way across the UK on tour.

The new cast of Les Misérables

It’s all change at the barricades as new and returning faces head to the West End production of Les Misérables. As of early Feb, Harry Hepple, Lizzie Bea, and WhatsOnStage Award nominee Jess Folley will join Lucie Jones, Ian McIntosh, Sam Oladeinde, and more! Are you ready to hear these lovely people sing?

Ben Oatley

How does his hair look pushed back? We’ve been waiting to find out who will play Aaron Samuels in the first-ever UK tour of Mean Girls, and we finally have our answer. Ben Oatley has completed the cast.

Sidonie Smith

She’s back! No stranger to these lists, the Queen of the Night is dancing with audiences across the UK as The Bodyguard tour continues with Sidonie Smith in the starring role of Rachel Marron.

The Six Queens

From Queen of the Night to Queens in concert! It has been a big month for casting groups making this very list, and, of course, some royalty had to be included. New Queens are preparing to “Get Down” in the West End production of Six. Reigning over the Vaudeville Theatre from 24 February will be Adrianne Langley as Catherine of Aragon, Marisha Morgan as Anne Boleyn, Jessica Aubrey as Jane Seymour, Freya Karlettis as Anna of Cleves, WhatsOnStage Award nominee Leesa Tulley as Katherine Howard, and Nia Stephen as Catherine Parr.