Actors from the radio soap opera 'Amores en subasta' are seen recording their characters at the 'Radio Progreso' studio in Havana on September 18, 2024. – AFP
Forget Netflix and telenovelas. In communist Cuba, many people still rely on the humble radio for their daily dose of drama. Eighty years ago, the Cuban radio soap opera 'El Derecho de Nacer' became a sensation with its story of a wealthy Havana patriarch attempting to conceal his daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy. The series, which moved listeners across Latin America and later became a movie, set the stage for the region's popular telenovelas. However, in Cuba, the affection for radio plays, especially historical productions, has persisted despite the rise of TV and streaming platforms.
Currently, the must-listen soap is 'Amores en Subasta,' broadcast daily at mid-morning on Radio Progreso, known as the 'happiness station,' which has produced many beloved Cuban series. Set in early 20th-century Havana, the series focuses on a maid in a wealthy family who shares gossip about Cuba's high society. Alexis Castillo, a 54-year-old congenitally blind listener, tunes in daily from his home in eastern Havana, feeling as if he's living in that era. Meanwhile, 82-year-old pensioner Milvia Lupe Levya, captivated by the stories of Cuban nobility, finds solace in the soap, providing an escape from her daily life.
The radio soaps often address social issues. 'El Derecho de Nacer' featured a Black nanny helping a disgraced pregnant woman, gaining a following across Latin America, including Brazil. 'Amores en subasta' similarly explores social inequality and discrimination within Havana's pre-revolutionary aristocracy. Castillo dismisses the idea that radio soaps are only for stay-at-home moms or those with little education, emphasizing their historical and biographical nature.
In Radio Progreso's recording studio, the ambiance feels frozen in the 1950s. Actors, including 76-year-old Nilas Sanchez with half a century of experience, bring characters to life. Despite the streaming revolution, Sanchez believes radio plays have many years left in Cuba. The artistic director of 'Amores en subasta,' Yumary Cruz, credits the success to the formula of 'El Derecho de Nacer' scriptwriter Felix B. Caignet.
However, the studio faces challenges from Cuba's economic and energy crises. To conserve energy during frequent blackouts, air conditioning is banned, and actors perform in sweat. Cruz also laments the departure of many actors. Tech-savvy listeners like Castillo record episodes and share them via WhatsApp and podcasts, allowing fans inside and outside Cuba to enjoy the soap.
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