"The See-saw Tree", a British children's play about environmental issues, premiered at the China National Theater for Children in Beijing on Thursday, December 20, 2018. [Photo provided to China Plus]

The British children's play "The See-Saw Tree" premiered at the China National Theater for Children on Thursday evening.

The play opens with a public meeting at a village hall to debate whether a 300-year-old oak tree should be cut down. One of lead characters, Mr. Bunn, is an environmental activist who explains to the villagers the devastating effect chopping down the tree would have on the animals that made it their home.

The play debuted in Britain in 1986. At the time, it was the first children's play centered around a hot button social issue like environment protection.

"The See-saw Tree", a British children's play about environmental issues, premiered at the China National Theater for Children in Beijing on Thursday, December 20, 2018. [Photo provided to China Plus]

Director Adam Stafford said "The See-saw Tree" tries to convey two fundamental ideas.

"That our decisions are likely to influence others, that mutual respect is vital when it comes to managing disagreements", said the director.

Unlike China, which has the China National Theater for Children, Adam Stafford said, "we still do not have a national theater for children in England." But whereas China has the theater, it lacks locally produced children's plays that tackle social issues in an entertaining realistic way.

The play will be on stage in Beijing until early next year.

"The See-saw Tree", a British children's play about environmental issues, premiered at the China National Theater for Children in Beijing on Thursday, December 20, 2018. [Photo provided to China Plus]