 McKellen attended Bolton School ( Boys ' Division ) , of which he is still a supporter , attending regularly to talk to pupils . McKellen 's acting career started at Bolton Little Theatre , of which he is now the patron . An early fascination with the theatre was encouraged by his parents , who took him on a family outing to Peter Pan at the Opera House in Manchester when he was three . When he was nine , his main Christmas present was a wood and bakelite , fold @-@ away Victorian theatre from <unk> Toy Theatres , with cardboard scenery and wires to push on the cut @-@ outs of Cinderella and of Laurence Olivier 's Hamlet . 
