August Wilson’s ‘Fences’ returns to the UK for the first time in over 10 years in a new production directed by Daniel Bailey. Set in the 1950s, this Pulitzer Prize-winning play explores masculinity, motherhood, music and abiding hope for a different future centred around Troy Maxson and his family.
Bailey’s production opens strongly and with foreboding as the solitary figure of Troy’s brother, Gabriel, (Simon-Anthony Rhoden) appears on a darkened stage struggling awkwardly with his trumpet strung around his shoulder and sings a song about Judgment Day. The audience is hooked and the tension builds as the Maxson family’s story unravels before us.
The action takes place mainly in front of the Maxons’ home (set designed by Lily Arnold) with its unfinished fence. Ray Fearon is compelling as Troy, he has physical and emotional presence on stage, and his portrayal is edgy and unnerving both when he is in dialogue with other characters and alone on stage. There is a standout scene where he addresses Death defiantly: “All right... Mr. Death. See now... "I'm going to tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna take and build me a fence around this yard... I'm gonna build it for you. You stay on the outside of my yard".
The symbol of a fence as a boundary is reinforced in scenes where Arnold’s set revolves to reveal the interior of the Maxons’ home and Jai Morjaria’s lighting design uses neon wireframing to draw a rectangular outline around the space in which different characters perform at various times, including around Troy’s son, Lyons (Michael Ahomka-Lindsay), as he plays the saxophone. Lyons is an aspiring jazz musician who has an uneasy relationship with his father who is not interested in engaging with his son’s ambition.
The characters and their connections with each other are believable. The relationship between Troy and Jim Bono (Everal A Walsh) feels real. We care about Rose (Madeline Appiah) when Troy tells her of his infidelity, and for Cory (Josh Tedeku) when Troy insists that he addresses him as ‘Sir’ and thwarts his dreams.
The quality of the acting, set and lighting designs along with Khalil Madovi’s music and sound design serve the plot and characterisation well. This three-hour show engaged throughout.
‘Fences’ can be seen at Leeds Playhouse from 11–26 September 2026, it is a Leeds Playhouse, Headlong, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and HOME Manchester co-production and is touring through autumn 2026.
Tour details can be found at https://www.headlong.co.uk/productions/fences
Reviewer: Sue Hayward
On: 17 September 2026
