Alongside a top notch musical line up which includes the likes of Edwyn Collins, House of Love and Darwin Deez, as well as mechanical merry-go-round of a theme for 2013, Deer Shed Festival true to form, have upped the ante for this year’s arts programme!

Broadening the scope once again the artistic aspects of this family festival now includes; cinema, PG-rated comedy, commissioned theatre, artists at work, illustrators, graffiti, spoken word, circus, cabaret, storytelling, computer artists and animators, all on hand to provide enthralling entertainment for the whole family! 

At Deer Shed Festival all the comedy and cabaret is PG rated so the entire family can find spot in the Big Top tent and plonk themselves down for hours of back to back giggle-tastic gags and rib tickling repertoires! 

First up in the Big Top for 2013 is the Friday Cabaret with Slightly Fat Features: A superb variety show of comedy and cabaret that perfectly fits this slot with a two hour show of the best performers from all over the UK coming together for the Edinburgh festival and stopping off with Deer Shed along the way! The Saturday night slot is Manchester based Justin Moorhouse, a talented stand-up comedian, writer, actor and radio presenter. Justin's exuberant, larger than life personality and cheeky northern charm has allowed him to build a solid reputation on the live comedy circuit and is guaranteed to enchant the Deer Shed Festival comedy lovers. Next up is visual comedian Steve Best, he’ll be wowing the crowds with a mind-boggling array of gadgets and gags and his ultimate show stopper - juggling five pilchards while driving a purple tractor! Janice Connolly (from 'Phoenix Nights' TV series), due to popular demand will be bringing back Mrs. Barbara Nice with a brand new show! Expect the usual friendly, inclusive atmosphere with home truths, great timing and unique comic insights into the human condition. Also ready to shed his own light on fragility of human beings is hospital radio DJ supremeo Ivan Brackenbury. Hosting a fast paced gag fest of a radio show Ivan’s unique combination of musical punch lines mixed with endearing cack-handed DJ skills will keep the audience on their toes! Following on from Ivan is another incarnation from the comedic genius of Tom Binns, this time as spirit medium Ian D Montfort. A curious hybrid of talents from the likes of Derren Brown and Tommy Cooper, Ian D Montfort is as spookily skillful as he fabulously funny, an absolute must see for all believers and non beliers alike! And lastly, is one of the UK's busiest and most established comedy magicians Steve Price. Steve uses his unique mix of comedy and magic to amaze and amuse audiences all around the world and will be bringing this to the pastures of Baldersby Park this July! 

Sunday in The Dock Stage will see the return of Deer Shed Festival’s very own silver screen showcase. Acknowledging that little feet might be a bit weary after two solid days of hyper fun and more new sounds, sights and senses then they could shake their new stick friend at, the cinema is on hand for some solace and recuperation before the final night’s shenanigans. In keeping with the Machines theme there is a distinct mechanical flavour to most of the films picked, featuring WALL.E, The Iron Giant and Hugo as well as a Silent Cinema experience of Phantom of the Opera (1925) with live piano accompaniment. 

In the early morning, as the sun stretches into the sky over Topcliffe, on Saturday and Sunday morning the Lodge Stage is where tales of magic, mystery and mayhem can be found… Deer Shed festival have booked a selection of lyrical laureates to ease sleepy eyes open and set the festival goers up for a day of discovery! The Flanagan collective presents… The William Stories; a unique, interactive storytelling theatre experience that puts the imagination at the very centre of the telling, gently encouraging children to create their own adventures, people and places. They will also be dissecting and exploring some of the very best from the king of young children’s literature, Roald Dahl! Also, storyteller Peter Grimm will be going on a journey through a medley of well known Brother's Grimm tales, to finally unlock his imagination and free his stories. A truly original story told with puppets, acting and live music. 

After the storytellers have safely guided people back to reality (or Deer Shed Festival at least…) the Lodge will be taken over by a fine array of Spoken word and talks. The Guardian's Dave Simpson will be talking to Tom Hingley, a musician best known as the lead vocalist of the Inspiral Carpets, in an entertaining talk about the rise and fall of the band, the Madchester scene and lessons learnt along the way. Spoken Word from author David Conn talks about his book Richer Than God and Steve Manthorp will be presenting his illustrated talk Sound & Fury, covering the sound and iconography of heavy metal. 

The arts programme isn’t restricted to performances and talks, it also includes a healthy splattering of miscellaneous events, stalls and showcases happening across the site throughout the festival with some curious contraptions and desirable delights including: Johnny White and his touring exhibition - Beastly Machines and First Time a Coconut Vintage Arts Fair will be once more presenting the best in crafts, arts and vintage wears. Which offers, a Bubbleman, the return of the gorgeous Tuttobello handbags, bespoke Cajun drum boxes, Pulpitations paper makers and loads more stalls to entice and tempt…

Ticket Information Tickets on sale here

  • Tier 1 Adult full weekend ticket (16+)      SOLD OUT
  • Tier 2 Adult full weekend ticket (16+)      £89 + booking fee - AVAILABLE
  • Tier 3 Adult full weekend ticket (16+)      £99 + booking fee - NOT RELEASED
  • Child full weekend ticket (6+)                 £25 + booking fee
  • Child full weekend ticket (5 and under)    £1 + booking fee
  • Full weekend campervan/caravan            £20 + booking fee
  • Camping in a tent, no size restrictions     FREE
  • Car parking                                          FREE