When people search for “fences who wrote it,” they are usually looking for the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences, and the answer is August Wilson. Wilson wrote Fences in 1983, and it premiered on Broadway in 1987, quickly becoming one of the most celebrated works in American theater. Understanding who wrote it—and why—helps readers appreciate why this play still resonates with audiences and students today.

The Author Behind Fences: August Wilson

August Wilson was an American playwright born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1945. He is best known for his ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle (also called the Century Cycle), which chronicles the African American experience across each decade of the 20th century. Fences is the sixth play in that cycle and is set in the 1950s.

Wilson’s writing career began outside of theater, but his move into playwriting changed American drama. He wrote Fences in 1983, and the play opened on Broadway in 1987 with James Earl Jones in the lead role. Its success established Wilson as a major voice in theater and helped bring Black working-class stories to the center of the American stage.

A Playwright With a Purpose

Wilson did not write plays simply to entertain. He wanted to document the lives, struggles, and dignity of Black Americans across the 20th century. Fences reflects that mission by focusing on family, responsibility, and the wounds passed between generations.

What Fences Is About

Fences tells the story of Troy Maxson, a sanitation worker in Pittsburgh who once dreamed of playing professional baseball. Troy is a complicated man: proud, charismatic, and deeply scarred by the racism that blocked his athletic career. The play unfolds in his backyard, where he builds a fence—a physical and symbolic act that shapes the entire story.

The plot centers on Troy’s relationships with his wife Rose, his sons Cory and Lyons, and his friend Bono. As the fence rises, so do tensions over loyalty, opportunity, and legacy. The play asks hard questions about what parents owe their children and how past injustice shapes present choices.

• Setting: A backyard in Pittsburgh in the 1950s.
• Main character: Troy Maxson, a former Negro Leagues baseball player turned garbage collector.
• Central symbols: The fence, baseball, and the piano.
• Core themes: Family duty, racial injustice, dreams deferred, and forgiveness.

Why the Title Matters

In Fences, the fence is both literal and figurative. Rose wants it built to keep her family close, while Troy treats it as a burden. Over time, the fence becomes a symbol of protection, separation, and the boundaries people build around themselves.

Why August Wilson Wrote Fences

Wilson drew from personal and cultural history when writing Fences. His own family background and his observations of Black life in Pittsburgh informed the characters and conflicts. He wanted to show that ordinary lives carry extraordinary weight.

Wilson also wanted to correct the record. He believed American theater had too often ignored Black stories or reduced them to stereotypes. By writing Fences, he gave audiences a complex, flawed, deeply human protagonist whose struggles were both personal and historical.

The Pittsburgh Cycle Connection

Fences belongs to Wilson’s ten-play cycle, each set in a different decade. The 1950s setting of Fences captures a moment of change in America: the civil rights movement was gaining momentum, yet many Black families still faced limited opportunities. Wilson used that tension to fuel the play’s drama.

Reception and Awards

Fences was an immediate critical and commercial success. It won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. It also won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, cementing Wilson’s reputation as one of America’s greatest playwrights.

The play has been revived multiple times, including a 2010 Broadway revival starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. That production won several Tony Awards and introduced Fences to a new generation of theatergoers.

The 2016 Film Adaptation

In 2016, Denzel Washington directed and starred in a film adaptation of Fences, with Viola Davis reprising her role as Rose. The film earned Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Davis. It brought Wilson’s words to millions of viewers who had never seen the play on stage.

Key Themes in Fences

Understanding who wrote Fences also means understanding what the play is saying. Wilson layered several themes throughout the story, and each one connects to the fence metaphor.

• Responsibility: Troy insists on duty but struggles to live up to his own standards.
• Racial injustice: Troy’s lost baseball career represents systemic barriers.
• Generational conflict: Cory’s dreams clash with Troy’s bitterness.
• Love and betrayal: Rose’s loyalty is tested by Troy’s choices.
• Forgiveness: The play ends with questions about healing and reconciliation.

Troy Maxson: Hero or Villain?

Troy is neither purely good nor purely bad. Wilson wrote him as a man shaped by hardship who passes both strength and pain to his children. That complexity is why Fences remains a favorite for actors and directors.

Why Fences Still Matters Today

Fences remains relevant because its questions are universal. Families still struggle with expectations, forgiveness, and the legacies parents leave behind. Wilson’s dialogue and characters feel immediate, even decades after the play premiered.

For students, Fences is often studied in literature and drama classes. It offers rich material for discussion about symbolism, character development, and social history. For theater lovers, it remains a powerful reminder of the emotional range of live performance.

Reading and Watching Fences

If you want to experience Fences, you have several options. You can read the published script, watch the 2016 film, or see a live production when one is available. Each format offers a different way to engage with Wilson’s work.

• Read the play to study Wilson’s language and structure.
• Watch the film for a powerful visual interpretation.
• See it live for the full emotional impact of theater.

Common Questions About Fences

Did August Wilson Write Fences Alone?

Yes, August Wilson wrote Fences as a solo playwright. He developed the script through workshops and revisions, but the writing and vision were entirely his own.

When Was Fences Written and First Performed?

Wilson wrote Fences in 1983. It premiered on Broadway in 1987 at the 46th Street Theatre, now known as the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

What Inspired Fences?

Wilson drew inspiration from his own life, his family, and the Black community in Pittsburgh. He also wanted to explore the impact of racism on Black men and families in the 1950s.

Conclusion: The Legacy of August Wilson’s Fences

So, who wrote Fences? The answer is August Wilson, one of the most important American playwrights of the 20th century. He wrote the play in 1983, and it became a landmark work that continues to move audiences on stage and on screen. Fences is more than a play about a backyard project—it is a story about family, history, and the fences we build between ourselves and the people we love.

If you have not yet experienced Fences, now is the perfect time to read the script, watch the film, or find a local production. Dive into Wilson’s world and discover why this play remains a cornerstone of American theater.