 While on holiday in Alassio in 1921 Coward had enjoyed the atmosphere of the Combattente Club, with "much tawdry glamour … contributed by sweet champagne, an electric piano, paper streamers and the usual paraphernalia of Latin carnival", and the added attraction of an attractive young local who caught his eye and inspired the fiery, romantic hero of "Sirocco".He wrote the play soon afterwards, but it remained unstaged for six years.In 1921 Coward was still little known, but by late 1927, when "Sirocco" was finally produced, he had established himself with two substantial successes – "The Vortex" (1924) and "Hay Fever" (1925).