Three Aboriginal playwrights had staged readings of their works held at the Louvre as part of a week-long celebration of Pacific writers.

The Australia Council for the Arts provided funding for playwrights Andrea James, Richard Frankland and David Milroy to represent Australia as part of Un Ocean d’Iles, a festival of poetry and plays from the Pacific region.

The festival was held by the French state theatre company Comedie Francaise between 25 and 29 January at the Studio Theatre situated within the famous Louvre arts complex.

David Milroy had sections of his play Windmill Baby read in French for the event, along with Andrea James’ Yanagai! Yanagai! and Richard Frankland’s Conversations with the Dead.

Productions of both Yanagai! Yanagai! and Windmill Baby will be toured in the UK later this year.

David Milroy said that the event was a showcase for the vibrant literary cultures of the Pacific.

‘It was a truly amazing experience – being there to see our plays being read in French and take in the full range of French culture,’ he said.

‘It was also an excellent opportunity to meet and work with other writers from throughout Polynesia and the Pacific.’

Comedie Francaise is the national state theatre of France. Founded in 1680, the company has a rich history of being associated with the great names of French theatre.

Un Ocean d’Iles featured 12 sessions of poetry and play readings by writers from New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Fiji and other Pacific nations.