This thesis examines the influence that William Shakespeare had on the works of Harold Pinter. This breaks down into three chapters: page, stage and screen. The page section examines Pinter’s early writings about Shakespeare (1950-1956) and the ways in which this influence can be seen in Pinter’s later development as a playwright. The stage chapter considers Pinter’s time at the Royal Shakespeare Company (1962-73) and the role that this played in establishing his reputation as a playwright with particular reference to his collaborations with Peter Hall. The screen section analyses the unproduced screenplay for a film of ‘The Tragedy of King Lear’ that was completed in 2000 and places it in the critical context of ‘King Lear’ on film. Through this, I aim to prove the significant and lasting influence that Shakespeare had on the works of Harold Pinter.