Menu
Berridge Programs

Berridge Programs

4.88 Rating
59 reviews
Leave a Review
Request Info
Request Info

Why choose Berridge Programs?

Berridge Programs provides meaningful experiences designed to foster creativity, connection, and self-discovery. Set in an 18th-century château in Normandy, France, our programs encourage participants to slow down, focus on their passions, and engage with life in a more intentional way.

From filmmaking and cooking to writing and photography, we embrace creativity in all its forms, offering hands-on opportunities to develop skills and explore self-expression. Participants work closely with experienced mentors and are supported by a welcoming community that values growth and collaboration.

At Berridge, self-expression is at the heart of what we do. We believe it can expand perspectives, strengthen relationships, and shape a meaningful life. Through practical projects, cultural experiences, and shared moments, students discover their creative voices, gain confidence, and leave inspired to pursue a purposeful future.

Founded
2008

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to help you plan with confidence.

Community Photos

The friendly cat in front of the Berridge building
A hike we took overlooking the ocean at La Hague.
Student Organized Sunday Picnic
Birthday Picnic
filming :)
Picnic in the yard
picnic at the chateau!
The view from my window.
bedroom of students
Group picnic outside the chateau :)
Front lawn of chateau
Us with the director Andrea at Phare de Gatteville
watercolour painting in Honfleur
at the top of the effiel tower
at the top of a lighthouse
filming our short film

View All Photos

Community Awards

  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Berridge Programs is dedicated to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where participants feel seen, respected, and celebrated. We celebrate diversity and encourage self-expression, ensuring that all students can thrive within our creative, respectful community. Our mentors and staff are dedicated to cultivating a space where individuality is embraced, and everyone is empowered to explore their passions authentically. Our programs are designed to promote personal growth, cultural understanding, and positive impact while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and respect for all individuals involved.
Request Info

Reviews

Clara Bonney Profile Picture
Clara
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Creative Semester

Distinctly Unique

Apr 11, 2026

I was one of three writing students, which quickly became two. The other student then migrated over to the film department so I benefited from one on one writing feedback sessions. While it was nice at points I do wish I had a community to talk with about the work I was doing. There were a lot of studio artists and I wish there had been a better distribution across the concentrations.

Outside of the work, the community was great. We were close, had movie nights, did Just Dance in the living room, made brownies at midnight. Every Saturday we went on a field trip around the peninsula. It was a distinctly unique experience to see and learn about the place I was in, including the history portion when we went to the D-Day museum. All staff members are always willing to help, or talk, regardless of their position within the program.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Have an open mind, be open to trying new things, and doing things that are uncomfortable. Fully embrace the program.
Aidan
Male
United States
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Creative Semester

Was a good stepping stone program for my life.

Apr 11, 2026

This program gave me the time and space to focus on my art and gave me community and support in my time here. It is meant for a very specific person and I do wish that this program was more clear about not having much independent time or freedoms. It is a helpful program and all the staff here has nothing but your best interest at heart. It is a program where you are given a space and a roommate but you have to provide your own art materials and food. The cook here is great but be prepared to do a small amount of work preparing food and cleaning . I personally enjoyed it but just know this coming in you get what you give here.all the staff are great and helpful. It’s been a nice experience and I truly cannot be mad as everything here is beautiful. Huge shoutout to laurns for being a genuine person and always showing up for me authenticity.

What was your funniest moment?
Getting stuck on the train on the first day
Pros
  • Time to make art
  • Creative community
What other participants should know
  • Only dinner provided
  • Unable to bike and do everyday things that are part of my life back home. Ex swimming, biking, exploring solo, being able to see friends outside or have choices over where I focus my time on art.
  • Would have liked more time out and about
Çiğdem Çetinsoy Profile Picture
Çiğdem Çetinsoy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Creative Semester

Great option for gap year!

Apr 11, 2026

The program was quite fulfilling. Having to make art in the middle of a lovely pastoral scenery was an inspiring experience. The community was quite loving and I felt like I belonged, especially with the staff. Adam was a great teacher, Bogdan was really nice and taught me a lot in the kitchen and Cage and Amber were super enthusiastic program directors. I really learned a lot about independent living between the kitchen and the residential life. The many field trips gave me the true Normandy experience, and the artistic concentrations helped me develop as a creative. I feel a lot better about my art and I feel like I spent my gap year doing something productive while also having a lot of fun ;)

Stella
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Creative Semester

My experience

Apr 11, 2026

This program was a very valuable experience to me. I really enjoyed all the group outings and the food was amazing. I really learned a lot from everyone I met here the program was very fun and I feel like these are people I will stay in contact with for the rest of my life.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I was surprised by how fast things feel
Kyla
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Creative Semester

yay

Apr 11, 2026

I had a lot of fun, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person and as an actor. The Chateau is beautiful and AmBer is a wonderful acting teacher. Shoutout to her. The weekly trips around Normandy were really fun, and I really appreciated the level of independence we were given. I have met some great people here!

One of the highlights for me was the week long Paris trip. Every day we had one required place to visit, like a museum or something, and the rest of the day we were free to do anything as long as we came back by midnight. I was pleasantly surprised by that level of freedom and made some of my favorite memories during that time.

I also loved the weekly creative workshops, where you could explore outside of your artistic concentration. I especially loved being in the ceramics studio. Overall, I had a pretty good time here, and I would recommend!

View All Reviews

Programs

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Duane Daniels

Program
Summer Theatre and Film Program
Job Title
Acting Teacher
Duane Daniels has had a professional acting career on stage, TV, and film for over 30 years. He was a series regular on Veronica Mars. Duane has won the Drama-Louge Award, ACT Award, Patte Award, and the Blitz Award. He logged over 3000 performances of Triple Espresso in venues from San Diego to Dublin.

What is your favorite travel memory?

The first time I ever traveled to France was to teach for Berridge. I had done a bit of traveling but hadn’t seen this part of Europe. And then I arrived at the
Chateau le Mont Epinguet! It was a welcoming, vibrant, creative
environment, with amazing food, and a job I could believe in! I only knew a few
staff members before arriving but had made life-long friends by the time I
finished my first year.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

For me, personally, it has given me faith in the future. I came into Berridge after 3 years on a TV show and 10 years and 3000 performances of a stage show so I was tired and maybe a bit jaded. Berridge gave me the opportunity to connect with the future generation of artists and thinkers. These young people were every bit as brave, driven, and aggressively compassionate as I had been when I was starting out as a hungry young artist. It gave me faith that the creative work we do is vitally important and the next generation will carry on changing the world, making it a better place. And do it better than my generation ever did! I am so grateful to have learned that lesson.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I’ve been teaching at Berridge for twelve years and each year 1/3 our student body returns. So there are a lot of memories of these young performers and creatives. There is one student who attended twice that comes to mind. In her first year, she seemed lost. She was extremely talented but seemed unsure about herself and unfocused. . She returned for a second summer and was completely transformed. She was humble, disciplined, and driven, and showed an amazing work ethic. Her performances had become riveting, fully professional. On the final night, she told me that she had been thinking about the lessons she had learned the first year and that the experience had marinated since she left. She told me she was so grateful and wanted to come back and do it right.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to go on Creative Semester. A whole 10 weeks in France creating, studying, collaborating, getting work experience and eating French food? Sign me up! There was really nothing like this when I was young. I would have jumped at the opportunity to combine travel with meeting creative people from all over the world and it would have really helped my confidence and career.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our company has a wonderful “can-do” attitude. We support the students in
such a variety of ways; through filmmaking, theatre, dance, Shakespeare,
Improv… the list goes on. One of the moments of which I was most proud:
A student wanted to attend our program but wasn’t interested in acting. She
wanted to be a costumer. So, our Director, Andrea - who has professional
experience with costuming - created a costume shop! She dedicated a
large room on the campus and brought sewing machines, mannequins,
fabric, accessories; everything one would need for a costuming major. The
student created costumes inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and
the whole program attended her Fashion/Design showing at the end of the
program. It was an amazing example of the individual care and attention
offered to every student.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Trust. Most of the staff at Berridge have been working as a team for over a
decade. The fact that there is virtually no turnover in staffing is a testament to
two things: Andrea’s innate ability to hire the right people, and the
satisfying, fulfilling job we are lucky enough to do in this energetic, magical
place. Another plus is the ratio of students to staff is about four to one. No
student gets lost in the shadows, every student has opportunities to shine.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Katie Royer

Program
Summer Theatre and Film Program
Job Title
Associate Director
Katie is an actor, writer, and film producer in Los Angeles, CA. She came to Berridge Programs as a student in 2008 and returned every summer until she was hired! She is now Associate Director of Admissions, working hard to give students the amazing experience she had on Berridge.
Katie R.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I remember the first time I ate an eclair in France. It had chocolate pudding inside and I remember thinking, "this is the best thing I have ever eaten!" I thought it was particular to that bakery- but turns out all eclairs in France are made with chocolate pudding! That's the first time I really got what's so special about French food, the care with which it is made, the quality of the ingredients, and the pride they take in preparing it.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started at Berridge as a student and anyone who saw me as a sixteen-year-old, and now, always tells me that I have changed! Berridge offered me a connection to my art and myself that has influenced all aspects of my life- from my writing, producing, filmmaking, right back around to my work with Berridge. I definitely would not be who I am today without Berridge.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

It's hard to pick one, but one I have heard quite a lot is "it was the first place I felt like I could be myself". I feel that way about Berridge too so that means a lot to me to hear someone else say that and know that I'm a part of making that happen for someone else. I also hear a lot of stories around students feeling that Berridge transformed their confidence and how they feel about themselves. That means so much to me.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to go on the film program in Ireland! The filmmakers/staff involved are so talented, and I would love to be able to explore that medium in Cork. It's such a special, unique city and some fantastic film is coming out of Ireland at the moment. It would be such an amazing experience to make films there with Brian Dwyer, our film teacher.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We really do care about the student's experience as an individual. I think that's something that really sets us apart. We want each student to have the experience they want to have, and we are always curious about finding out who each person is as an artist. I am proud of our team every time the students perform. Especially after the writing workshop showcases, where I can see how the teachers unlocked the inner worlds of each student, helped them find their unique voice, and now they're up there on the stage making me laugh and cry.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Authenticity, and heart. We really believe in what we do. None of us need to be there, we could all keep on with our professional lives, but we do it, not only because we love it, but because we deeply believe that providing this sort of space for young artists is important. I also think one of our strengths is being so approachable when we are at programs. The faculty and staff live amongst the students and we become like a family during our time there. The faculty are always there to coach, rehearse or work on projects with students, they don't drift away into some staff zone where you don't see them until the next day!

Professional Associations

Gap Year Association Logo
USA Gap Year Fairs Logo