Even when still studying theatre in Bagdad, Rasem wanted to direct Caligula but performances of the play were banned under Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship. Shortly after the fall of Hussein, in 2005, the then 23-year-old Rasem set to work on the play as his final project. It was the first production of Caligula in Iraq for more than 35 years. Seven turbulent years later Rasem came up with a completely new version of Caligula, a contemporary play which delves to the very heart of dictatorial power.