REVIEW: SECRETS OF THE SIMPSONS @ UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE

🎭 Secrets of the Simpsons

📍 Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 1 North Road, Highgate Village, London, N6 4BD

🗓 Sunday 26th July 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

AY CARAMBA! AN EVENING OF ANIMATION HISTORY

Heading up the hill from Highgate station last night, my anticipation was through the roof. I am a massive, lifelong fan of both The Simpsons and Mike Reiss. My obsession goes back to the very beginning - I can still vividly remember watching my very first episode at my cousin's house circa 1990. I was even that kid who constantly sang "Do the Bartman" when it was riding high at number one in the charts! So, walking into Upstairs at the Gatehouse, my inner geek and inner child were both fully primed.

SECRETS OF THE SIMPSONS is essentially an intimate masterclass in animation history, comedy creation, and showbiz gossip. Reiss, a four-time Emmy winner who has spent 36 years writing and showrunning the series, takes the audience on a breezy, anecdote-filled journey through Springfield and beyond.

Mike has a wonderfully natural wit and is incredibly engaging on stage. The man genuinely knows how to tell a story, holding the room effortlessly. However, for me, the evening was a bit of a game of two halves.

I enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second. The opening section was very Simpsons-centric, with just a few side steps into Ice Age and Reiss's other animated projects. Hearing behind-the-scenes facts straight from the horse's mouth made me proper geek out. If you've ever wanted to know the real mechanics behind your favourite episodes, this half is pure gold.

The second half shifted gears into a joke-telling exercise called "The Science of Jokes". While most of the gags were very funny - and a select few eliciting well-deserved groans from the crowd - I definitely preferred the heavy Simpsons focus of the first half over the generalised comedy theory.

Thankfully, the evening ended on a high note with an open Q&A session. Mike gave even further brilliant insights, and unsurprisingly, most of the audience questions steered straight back to Springfield.

There's no denying that this is an absolute must-see for any fans of the show. If you love the golden era of animation, do not hit the D'oh! button on this one. It is well worth a trip up the Northern line when Mike returns to the venue next weekend.

SECRETS OF THE SIMPSONS returns to Upstairs at the Gatehouse Sunday 2nd - Monday 3rd August. CLICK HERE for tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of Secrets of the Simpsons was gifted by KWPR who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

PRESENTED BY:

Mike Reiss

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours, including interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Adult humour; Mild strong language

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

16+

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