In 1760-61 Voltaire converted a barn near the château into a private theatre. This theatre presented the premieres of various plays authored by Voltaire, and he used this local stage to test his work before making any changes and having it performed in Paris. Following a later expansion it could accommodate up to 200 spectators to the great pleasure of the Genevans, whose Republic had banned the theatre. While Voltaire still resided at Ferney the theatre was repurposed as a silk factory and the entire structure was demolished in 1798.
