Running from Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October 2026, the production is directed by award-winning theatre-maker Daniel Bailey and brings Wilson’s landmark drama to Oxford as part of a collaboration between Headlong, Leeds Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and HOME Manchester.
Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, Fences tells the story of Troy Maxson, a man whose early ambitions were shaped and restricted by the racial barriers of his time. Having once dreamed of a career in baseball, Troy now works as a refuse collector, carrying the weight of disappointment, pride and responsibility into his family life.
At home, Troy’s wife Rose holds the family together with quiet strength and patience. She sees the world changing around them and hopes that their son Cory might be able to step into a future with more freedom and opportunity than his father ever had. But Troy’s own past, his frustrations and his need for control begin to place increasing pressure on the family.
As dreams collide and tempers rise, the Maxson household becomes the setting for a deeply human reckoning. Wilson’s writing captures the humour, pain and complexity of family life, showing how love and resentment can exist side by side, and how the damage caused by racism can echo across generations.
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson, Fences forms part of his acclaimed Pittsburgh Cycle, a series of ten plays exploring African American life across the twentieth century. The play remains one of Wilson’s most enduring works, combining emotional force, social insight and unforgettable characters in a story about ambition, masculinity, family, race and generational change.
This new production offers audiences a chance to experience a defining work of Black theatre during Black History Month, bringing Wilson’s extraordinary writing to the stage with fresh urgency and relevance.
Directed by Daniel Bailey, the production promises to introduce Fences to new audiences while honouring the depth and power of Wilson’s original text. With its themes of denied opportunity, parental expectation, changing social possibilities and the search for dignity, the play continues to speak powerfully to contemporary audiences.
Fences runs at Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW, from Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October 2026.
Tickets and information:
https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/august-wilsons-fences