First look: rehearsal images for Fences at the Lyric Hammersmith

Ray Fearon and Madeline Appiah lead the first major UK revival of Fences in over a decade, arriving at the Lyric Hammersmith this October – take a peek behind the scenes ahead of its arrival.

Headlong has released the first rehearsal images for its major new production of August Wilson’s Fences, ahead of the play’s arrival at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre this October. Directed by Daniel Bailey, the production marks the first major UK revival of Wilson’s landmark drama in over a decade, and plays the Lyric Hammersmith from 6 to 31 October, following an opening run at Leeds Playhouse

The production stars Ray Fearon (Othello, Fleabag) as Troy Maxson, a man who has cheated death once, but finds the past closing relentlessly in on him, alongside Madeline Appiah (Tina Turner: The Musical, The Winter’s Tale) as his wife Rose, who holds the family together as she looks towards a future she hopes her son might inherit with more freedom than his father ever had. They are joined by Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Lyons, Josh Tedeku as Cory, Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Gabriel and Everal A Walsh as Jim Bono.

A co-production between Headlong, Leeds Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and HOME Manchester, Fences reunites two long-running creative partnerships: Headlong and Leeds Playhouse’s associate partnership, which has previously produced acclaimed revivals including August Wilson’s Jitney, and Headlong’s collaboration with the Lyric Hammersmith, following their joint success with A Raisin in the Sun in 2024.

Headlong Executive Director Lisa Maguire said it “means so much to be putting August Wilson’s work front and centre for audiences across the country,” describing the play as encompassing “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.” She added that although the play was “written over 40 years ago, the central themes are still all too resonant today,” asking: “From the streets of Pittsburgh to our own backyard here in the UK — how much can we say has really changed?”

Plan your visit to Fences at the Lyric Hammersmith

Theatre: Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0QL
Booking dates: 6 – 31 October 2026
Access performances: Chilled Performance 21 October (2.30pm), Captioned 22 October (7.30pm), Audio Described 24 October (2.30pm), BSL Interpreted 26 October (7.30pm)

Fences

Lyric Hammersmith, London

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