I am sure, at some point or another, we have all thought it would be a great idea to perform Romeo & Juliet in a tiny set with tiny plastic ninja figures.

No? No me neither if I am honest but in 1999 Dov Weinstein had that exact idea and founded Tiny Ninja Theater, which has been touring the globe ever since and will be in Earlsfield next Thursday as part of TARA Arts' Shakespeare Re-Mixed Festival.

"The ninjas and the figurines come out of vending machines in New York where I used to live," says Weinstein, who is now based in Israel.

"I was interested in theatre and thought it was a real shame that no one was using these figurines for classical theatre and I decided to bridge that gap.

"It's a very small production and we use present day objects to put the set on, like an ironing board for example.

"You can see me behind it, I am not hidden, and I manipulate the figurines and put the voices to the actors.

"It's an abridged version, about 45 minutes long, but is the Shakespeare text.

"We have only a small audience and they are very close to the stage but I give them opera glasses too so they can see what is happening easily."

Weinstein has collected hundreds of figurines, with some given specific roles and others used time and time again as different characters.

"I collect the figurines in one of two ways," he explains.

"Either I see one and think that will be good to use but I don't have a specific role in mind, or sometimes I see something and say that is perfect for that role.

"Once they are cast as one particular role then they stay in that role the whole time."

Tiny Ninja Theater presents Romeo and Juliet, TARA Arts, Garratt Lane, February 25, 1.30pm and 7.30pm, £6. Call 020 8333 4457 or visit tara-arts.com.