Rockford's Rock Opera

Rockford's Rock Opera, the best selling App story series for children, is now available on DVD.

You may not have heard of Rockford's Rock Opera, but via the web and mobile Apps, this enchanting ecological musical story is captivating millions of children and parents. And with over 15,000 schools now using the story in class, Rockford's Rock Opera, created at home in North London, is now a favourite ecological educational resource across the world.

Created by Sweetapple and scripted by Steve Punt, Rockford's Rock Opera - the story of a boy from Battersea called Moog and his Dog, Rockford - was first launched in 2009 on the web as an enhanced audio book. Combining pictures, animation and great songs the story was a unique in its format and delivery.

Writing in The Times, audiobook reviewer, Christina Hardyment said: "Rockford's Rock Opera is an amazing mix of story, songs and sound effects. It has a freshness that makes you smile as you listen and could become a cult favourite as beloved as Wallace and Gromit."

Throughout 2009 Rockford's Rock Opera built a loyal fan base among children, families and schools (so much so that lesson plans were created around the story).

Then, in 2010 launched the first part of the story as an iPhone app. Soon, with no promotion, the story became one of the most popular children's audiobooks in the Apple App Store.

Now, with top selling Apps, a stage show, video game and a film planned, Rockford's Rock Opera is available on DVD for the first time.

Matthew Sweetapple said; "The DVD delivers all the pictures, songs, words and animation available on our Apps, but on DVD. It's a great way to discover the story and, unlike a pure film, the mixed media story telling really engages children in the experience. There's also a colour booklet of the lyrics everyone can sing along with all the songs!"

More about Rockford's Rock Opera

Rockford's Rock Opera has now been downloaded or streamed on the web by over 1,500,000 people. And acclaimed by teachers, educationalists and pupils, in the classroom, its ecological story and lesson plans have reached an additional 800,000 school children across over the world.

Although principally aimed at 4 - 11 year olds and their families, via Apps the story has reached a wider audience, from pre school children to teenagers and grand parents.

Rockford's Rock Opera a new breed of 21st century, ipod friendly, audio entertainment; think of 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' crossed with 'Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds', or 'Jungle Book' meets 'Jurassic Park' via Sgt. Pepper.

It's certainly not a traditional 'stage musical' with hammy songs, Rockford's Rock Opera's diverse musical inspiration can be found in The Beatles, The Flaming Lips, The Streets, The Small Faces, Genesis, XTC and works such as Roger Glover's 'Butterfly Ball', and Harry Nilssen's 'The Point'.

But really, it's not like anything else - a funny, sad, psychedelic, spell binding, thought provoking 21st Century adventure.

Rockford's Rock Opera is NOT the creation of a global entertainment company. It is the work of award winning alternative entrepreneurs, 'Sweetapple', (www.sweetapple.co.uk) and a handful of dedicated people working for the love of this amazing, original story. The project is entirely self produced and financed.

Rockford's Rock Opera is also a story with an original ecological message - a unique 'take' on the threat of extinction and the effect man is having upon life on earth. The Rockford's Rock Opera website is full of fascinating information about the story and the facts behind the fiction.

As a result, the project has been acclaimed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

What's the Story about?

Far away in the Sea of Tranquillity lies the Island of Infinity, home to the last one of every extinct species.

Infinity has a secret for the world but Moog, a boy from Battersea in London, and Rockford his dog, are the only one who can deliver its message. Travelling to Infinity Moog and Rockford get drawn into an adventure in sound that threatens the entire human race.

For lots more:

ON THE WEB: The first hour of the story is available free as a stream or downloads, you can then buy the whole story on DVD, CD, as downloads or streamed as an animated picture book and read-along:

http://www.rockfordsrockopera.com/home

ON iPHONE/iPOD TOUCH and iPAD: Visit the Apple App store where Part One of the story is available as a free App (Parts 2, 3 and 4 are available as paid
for Apps):

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/id345554761?mt=8