Headlong has announced the principal cast and creative team for a new UK tour of August Wilson’s landmark play Fences, which comes to Oxford Playhouse this autumn.
At a glance
| Show | August Wilson’s Fences |
| Where | Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW |
| When | Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October 2026 |
| Cast includes | Ray Fearon, Madeline Appiah, Michael Ahomka-Lindsay and Josh Tedeku |
| Director | Daniel Bailey |
| Age guidance | 12+ |
| Access performances | BSL on Thursday 1 October at 7.30pm; audio described, captioned and touch tour on Saturday 3 October at 2.30pm |
| Tickets | Available through Oxford Playhouse |
Ray Fearon and Madeline Appiah will lead the cast of a new touring production of August Wilson’s Fences, which arrives at Oxford Playhouse from Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October.
The production is being staged by Headlong, Leeds Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and HOME Manchester, and is directed by Daniel Bailey, whose recent work includes Red Pitch.
Headlong has described the show as the first major revival in more than a decade of Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. It will open at Leeds Playhouse in September before visiting Oxford, London, Manchester and Nottingham.
The Oxford dates also mark a return to Oxford Playhouse for Headlong, which is an associate company of the Beaumont Street theatre.
Who is in the cast?
Ray Fearon will play Troy Maxson, with Madeline Appiah as Rose. Michael Ahomka-Lindsay will play Lyons, while Josh Tedeku will appear as Cory.
Fearon’s credits include Othello for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Fleabag for the BBC and Coronation Street for ITV.
Appiah’s credits include In the Long Run, The Winter’s Tale for the RSC and Tina Turner The Musical in the West End.
Ahomka-Lindsay has appeared in Choir Boy at Theatre Royal Stratford East and Bristol Old Vic, as well as Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. Tedeku’s screen credits include Boarders for the BBC and Supacell on Netflix.
Cast highlights
| Troy Maxson | Ray Fearon |
| Rose | Madeline Appiah |
| Lyons | Michael Ahomka-Lindsay |
| Cory | Josh Tedeku |
What is Fences about?
Fences is set in 1950s Pittsburgh and centres on Troy Maxson, a former baseball player whose life has been shaped by racism, disappointment, pride and thwarted ambition.
Troy has survived more than one kind of battle, but the past continues to close in on him. At home, his wife Rose holds the family together while their son Cory looks towards a future that may offer more freedom than Troy ever had.
As old wounds, family pressures and competing dreams collide, the Maxson family is pushed towards a reckoning that could change everything.
The play is one of August Wilson’s best-known works and forms part of his wider cycle of plays exploring African American life across the 20th century. Fences won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play.
Ray Fearon: ‘Troy is such a rich, complex character’
Ray Fearon said he was excited to be taking on the role of Troy.
He said: “August Wilson is one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, I’ve always been drawn to his writing.
“Troy is such a rich, complex character, and it’s a real joy to get the chance to play him.
“Fences is one of those plays which stays with you, it captures a powerful honesty about pride, dreams and missed opportunities which resonates deeply.
“I’m really looking forward to getting into the room with Daniel Bailey and this company and sharing it with audiences across the UK, especially alongside the brilliant Madeline Appiah.”
Madeline Appiah: ‘The chance to play Rose is truly a dream’
Madeline Appiah said she first discovered Fences at drama school and fell in love with both the play and the role of Rose.
She said: “The chance to now play her is truly a dream.
“I’m so excited to get working on Daniel Bailey’s exciting vision for this powerful piece.
“Daniel is one of the most important directors of our time and I am thrilled to be working with him.
“I can’t wait to get into rehearsals with this incredible company and unlock and explore the many themes and layers of this play.”
Creative team
The production is directed by Daniel Bailey, with design by Lily Arnold, composition and sound design by Khalil Madovi, lighting design by Jai Morjaria, movement direction by Shelley Maxwell and fight direction by Kev McCurdy.
The creative team also includes design associate Emily King, casting director Heather Basten CDG, voice and dialect coach Aundrea Fudge and associate director Amber Ruby.
Bailey said: “It’s a proper privilege to welcome Ray, Madeline, Michael and Josh to the Fences family.
“I can’t wait to realise this show’s hidden gems with artists right at the top of their game.
“I’ve watched them enchant audiences and now we have the opportunity to do that together.”
Why this revival matters
Lisa Maguire of Headlong said staging Wilson’s work for audiences across the country was central to the company’s purpose.
She said: “This extraordinary play encompasses so much of what drives us at Headlong, breathing new life into work that deserves its place in the canon, whilst asking our audiences to think and feel deeply about the world we share.
“Despite being written over 40 years ago, the central themes are still all too resonant today.
“From the streets of Pittsburgh to our own backyard here in the UK, how much can we say has really changed? We’re thrilled to be working with Daniel on his take on this classic.”
The production follows previous Headlong collaborations with Leeds Playhouse including Henry V, The House Party, A Raisin in the Sun, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and August Wilson’s Jitney.
Oxford performance details
| Date | Time | Access information |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 30 September | 7.30pm | |
| Thursday 1 October | 2.30pm | |
| Thursday 1 October | 7.30pm | BSL performance |
| Friday 2 October | 7.30pm | |
| Saturday 3 October | 2.30pm | Audio described, captioned and touch tour |
| Saturday 3 October | 7.30pm |
Oxford Playhouse lists the production as suitable for ages 12 and over. Its content guidance says the play contains themes of death, injury and implied sexual assault, as well as occasional strong and racially explicit language, including use of the n-word.
Tickets can be booked through Oxford Playhouse.
Full UK tour dates
| Dates | Venue | Location | Access performances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 11 to Saturday 26 September 2026 | Leeds Playhouse | Leeds | BSL: Wednesday 16 September, 7.15pm; Saturday 19 September, 2pm; Tuesday 22 September, 7.15pm. Captioned: Tuesday 22 September, 12.30pm; Thursday 24 September, 7.15pm. Audio described and touch tour: Friday 25 September, 7.15pm; Saturday 26 September, 2pm. |
| Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October 2026 | Oxford Playhouse | Oxford | BSL: Thursday 1 October, 7.30pm. Audio described, captioned and touch tour: Saturday 3 October, 2.30pm. |
| Tuesday 6 to Saturday 31 October 2026 | Lyric Hammersmith Theatre | London | Chilled performance: Wednesday 21 October, 2.30pm. Captioned: Thursday 22 October, 7.30pm. Audio described: Saturday 24 October, 2.30pm. BSL: Monday 26 October, 7.30pm. |
| Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 November 2026 | HOME Manchester | Manchester | Access details to be checked with venue. |
| Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 November 2026 | Nottingham Playhouse | Nottingham | Audio described: Wednesday 11 November, 7.30pm. Captioned: Thursday 12 November, 7.30pm. BSL: Saturday 14 November, 2.30pm. |
FAQs
When is Fences at Oxford Playhouse?
Fences runs at Oxford Playhouse from Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October 2026.
Who stars in the new UK tour of Fences?
The principal cast includes Ray Fearon as Troy, Madeline Appiah as Rose, Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Lyons and Josh Tedeku as Cory.
Who is directing Fences?
The production is directed by Daniel Bailey.
What is Fences about?
Fences follows Troy Maxson and his family in 1950s Pittsburgh, exploring pride, ambition, family pressure, race, masculinity, motherhood and the hope for a different future.
Is Fences suitable for children?
Oxford Playhouse lists the production as suitable for ages 12 and over. The venue’s content guidance includes themes of death, injury and implied sexual assault, as well as occasional strong and racially explicit language.
Are there accessible performances in Oxford?
Yes. Oxford Playhouse lists a BSL performance on Thursday 1 October at 7.30pm, and an audio described, captioned and touch tour performance on Saturday 3 October at 2.30pm.
Where can people book tickets?
Tickets can be booked through the Oxford Playhouse website. More information about the wider tour is available from Headlong.
