Clear Cut Pictures is building a 5.1 audio theatre as part of its drive to take a greater slice of the drama audio post market.

The West London-based factual specialist has also recruited Pietro Dalmasso, who was part of the team that won Best Sound for Drama at the RTS Craft and Design Awards for his work on Kudos’ Occupation (pictured).

“Drama is really talent-driven so having someone with a track record in the genre will enhance our push in that direction while maintaining our reputation for documentaries,” said Clear Cut managing director Paul Austin.

Dalmasso, whose credits as FX editor include The Night Watch and Lark Rise To Candleford, has worked at Clear Cut as a freelancer over the past eight years. He will now take on the role of dubbing mixer.

Clear Cut is expanding into its car park to create the Dolby 5.1 mixing suite, with an edit suite also being turned into a track lay preparation room.

“We want it to be future-proof,” said head of audio Greg Gettens. “We want to offer the best solution for clients and that is why I chose Genelec monitors and a DFC Icon mixing console.”

The building work is due to be completed in November, and will take the facility’s total number of mixing suites to five, with two track lay rooms.