"One of the most thoughtful and constantly inventive theater spaces in the city, Shaking the Tree always produces works that must be discussed afterward…" -Suzette Smith, Portland Mercury "What makes Shaking the Tree one of the gutsiest production companies in the city is Van Der Merwe's ability to look straight at enshrined notions about what theater can or should be and tell them to go to hell." -Bennett Campbell Ferguson, Willamette Week
"I've written this before, but the reason I think Shaking the Tree is the most interesting theatre in Portland is because they don't let you off the hook, ever, not for a single moment. As soon as you enter the theatre, you're in it without a safety net." -Krista Garver, Broadway World