Christopher Isherwood (played by Matt Smith), escapes repressive English society and his suffocating relationship with his mother, Kathleen (played by Lindsay Duncan), for the decadent – and politically unstable – world of Thirties Berlin.
　　
The hedonistic cabaret scene of Berlin in the Thirties is in full swing when wide-eyed young writer Christopher Isherwood arrives in the city, unable to speak a word of German.
　　
To Isherwood's reserved English sensibility, the city's thriving gay subculture is thrilling and intoxicating, but he soon finds himself heartbroken after the failure of a hopeless love affair, and so sets out on a process of self-discovery.

　　
Jean Ross (played by Imogen Poots), is an aspiring actress and singer who provided Christopher with the inspiration for the Sally Bowles character of Cabaret fame.
　　
Gerald Hamilton (played by Toby Jones), is a peculiar man who provided the inspiration for the title character in the celebrated Isherwood novel Mr Norris Changes Trains.
　　
Wystan Auden (played by Pip Carter), is the famous poet with a droll sense of humour who persuaded Christopher to join him in Berlin.
　　
Heinz (played by Douglas Booth), is an unassuming street cleaner who Christopher meets and falls in love with during his time in Berlin.
　　
Christopher And His Kind is written by acclaimed playwright Kevin Elyot.