Fences at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

About Fences

August Wilson's Fences is one of the most celebrated plays of the twentieth century, a work of towering emotional power that continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Written as part of Wilson's ambitious Pittsburgh Cycle, a sequence of ten plays charting African American experience decade by decade, Fences won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play following its Broadway premiere. Now the play takes the stage at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London, bringing this landmark text to one of the capital's most storied venues.

The Story

At the heart of Fences is Troy Maxson, a man shaped and scarred by the racial injustices of mid-twentieth-century America. A gifted baseball player in his youth, Troy's opportunities were foreclosed by the era's segregated sport, and he now earns his living as a garbage collector in 1950s Pittsburgh. His days are spent navigating the competing demands of family, friendship and personal pride, while a deep sense of thwarted potential colours everything he does.

Troy's wife Rose anchors the household with quiet strength, and his son Cory strains against his father's rigid worldview as he chases his own sporting dreams. The friendship between Troy and his colleague Bono provides warmth and grounding, even as Troy's choices push those closest to him further away. Wilson constructs the drama through conversation, argument and confession, each exchange adding weight to the questions the play refuses to answer simply: what do we owe those we love, and what does it cost us when we fail them?

What to Expect in the Theatre

The action of Fences unfolds almost entirely in the backyard of the Maxson family home, and productions of the play draw their intimacy from that single, loaded space. The fence itself, gradually built through the course of the drama, becomes far more than a physical structure. It stands as a barrier, a boundary and a gesture of love all at once, its meaning shifting as the years and seasons change around it.

Wilson's writing is rooted in the rhythms of blues music and the traditions of African American oral storytelling, giving the dialogue a lyrical density that rewards close attention. This is a play where every word carries weight, and the silences between characters can be just as expressive as the speeches. Audiences should expect a production of approximately two and a half hours that demands and repays complete engagement.

Why See Fences at the Lyric Hammersmith

The Lyric Hammersmith has built its reputation on productions that combine artistic ambition with genuine accessibility, and Fences is a natural fit for a theatre with that ethos. With tickets available from £12.50, the production offers audiences across London the chance to encounter a work of real significance without the barriers that premium pricing can create. The Lyric's auditorium, intimate by London standards, means that no seat feels remote from the action unfolding on stage.

Whether you are coming to Fences for the first time or returning to a play you already know, this London production promises a fresh encounter with material that never loses its urgency. The cast rotates regularly, so each run brings its own distinct character to these indelible roles.

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre has stood on King Street in west London since 1895, making it one of the oldest working theatres in the capital. Hammersmith tube station is served by the District, Piccadilly and Hammersmith and City lines, placing the venue within easy reach of central London and beyond. The theatre is fully accessible, with step-free routes available and a range of assisted performances scheduled throughout most runs.

Book Tickets for Fences

Tickets for Fences at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre start from £12.50. This is a limited London run, and availability can move quickly for a play of this stature. See availability at tickadoo, the booking platform built by the founders of London Theatre Direct, where you can compare seating options and secure your seats for the performance of your choice.