Renowned Cuban actor Roberto Perdomo, a familiar face on Cuban television, recently shared in an interview with Cubamastv that he has had to decline theater invitations due to the overwhelming transportation crisis in Cuba, which devours nearly his entire salary before he can even reach the stage.
During an appearance on the show "Todos Hablan," hosted by Jorge Martínez, Perdomo broke down the financial trap many Cubans are caught in: "The 4,700, I calculated it with the examples I'm giving you. See, these are shows, four weekends, the salary is a little over 4,000, and my salary disappears on transportation because it's 200 there and 200 back, weekly, three days, and four weeks... it's not doable, I sacrifice myself," he lamented.
In recent months, Perdomo received two offers to return to the stage but had to turn them down for the same reason. He was invited by his friend Linda Soriano from the group Impulso to star in "Antígona," and he was also approached for the play "Manteca." In both instances, the inability to travel proved insurmountable.
The Transportation Predicament
Perdomo explained his struggle with the first invitation: "I couldn't do it, I didn't know how to get to Línea, I couldn't travel to attend a rehearsal, and then how would I return home? It was impossible," he explained.
Highlighting the dire state of transportation on the island, Perdomo recounted: "There was a rehearsal, a day of rehearsals where I spent an hour at the corner of my house waiting for one of those electric tricycles that left me in pieces." These informal rental tricycles have become the sole means of mobility for millions of Cubans following the 93% collapse of the state-run public transportation system between January and September 2025.
A Passion for Theater Stymied
Perdomo emphasized that his withdrawal from theater is not due to a lack of passion: "I love theater. We are theater actors, theater rats," he expressed in the interview, noting that a "range of things," including economic and situational reasons, have kept him from the stage: "If I could leave my house and catch a ride—without much waiting—to where I need to go, I would do it and say, invite me, I'm going to do theater because I handle it, I know it," he added.
According to the Ministry of Labor's Resolution 4/2026, theater artists earn between 3,260 and 5,560 pesos monthly, figures that are laughable compared to the actual cost of informal transportation, with fuel prices soaring to 6,000 pesos per liter on the black market.
Banking Woes
On the subject of banking, Perdomo was outspoken: "I called it 'mierdarización' because it hasn't helped at all. [...] We get paid through transfers, you go to withdraw, and they say no, they don’t accept transfers." Issues with banking are especially acute for state workers, including film and television artists, who receive digital payments they cannot use in much of the informal economy.
When asked about his feelings, Perdomo responded with a sentiment many Cubans share: "I feel like 8 million people feel."
Understanding Cuba's Transportation Crisis
Why did Roberto Perdomo stop performing in theater?
Roberto Perdomo has stopped performing in theater due to the prohibitive costs of transportation in Cuba, which consume nearly his entire salary, making it impossible for him to attend rehearsals and performances.
What alternatives do Cubans have for transportation?
Many Cubans are forced to rely on informal rental options like electric tricycles, as the state-run public transportation system has significantly deteriorated.
How has the banking system affected artists in Cuba?
Artists in Cuba face challenges with the banking system as they are paid digitally but struggle to use this form of payment in the largely informal economy, limiting their purchasing power.