China Children's Art Theater is hosting the first Chinese Children Theater Festival in Beijing, which will run till Aug 28.

It will showcase 39 plays, including musicals, shadow plays, and puppet shows, presented by 24 troupes from eight countries and regions. Children of migrant workers, soldiers and bus drivers can watch the performances for free. Some of the shows will also travel to other provinces and cities including Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Tianjin.

The festival will include a seminar on children's theater in China and a talk by Ivica Simic, secretary general of the International Association of Theater for Children and Young People on the growth of children's theater.