But an economic downfall doe not have to spell doom and gloom. Just ask 53-year-old Maggie Wilson, who has turned it to her advantage.

Maggie, a larger-than-life character who used to top the scales at 18-plus stone, has been a fashion consultant for Canadian company Weekenders, for the past 13 years. She did parties at people's homes and workplaces and enjoyed her work, but the company went into liquidation in June leaving Maggie and hundreds of other women without a job.

Maggie says she could quite easily be sat in her chair at her Elland home today crying "woe is me" and using food as a comfort. But instead of letting the gloom overwhelm her she went out and did something positive.

Four months down the line Maggie has started her own business and lost a staggering five-and-a-half stone. Not only has she got a whole new life but also a whole new vitality to go with it.

"It would be fair to say the credit crunch has done me a favour and been life-changing. I turned into a real drama queen and cried when Weekenders went under but it's been the making of me. Out of the ashes, a new Maggie has been born."

Maggie lost her weight with LighterLife, a weight loss programme for those with three stone or more to lose, and has gone from a size 28 to a 16. She came across counsellor Siobhan Barron when she visited her company, And Me UK, in Sowerby Bridge when she tried to interest her in hosting a Weekenders party.

"I needed to lose weight because of health issues – my blood pressure was high – and when I heard about the success stories felt I could try this myself and I did."

She says losing weight has been phenomenal for her health, brought her confidence back and given her the courage to start up her drama classes again.

Drama has always been Maggie's passion. She has been singing and acting since the age of three and it was on the stage that she met her husband, Neil, 25 years ago.

They were both appearing in a Halifax Light Opera production and fell in love. The couple have also been members of Halifax Amateurs, Halifax Thespians and Halifax Catholic Amateurs and both their children are into drama, dance and music.

Their 19-year-old daughter, Pippa is a dancer at Disney in Paris and their 14-year-old son Todd is in the process of setting up a band.

Maggie, who had lead roles in her amateur days, used to run drama classes many years ago and has now set up Dramatique, which she is at pains to point out is not another stage school.

"There are a lot of stage schools around and I wanted to offer something different so I spoke to other mums about how I could help their children. They came back and told me their children needed life and communication skills for things like answering the phone and going to interviews as well as help with manners, etiquette, deportment, reading and reciting."

She uses drama techniques to help with all these as well as self confidence. Her classes, are held at Old Earth School, Elland and St Mary's Church, Outlane and are aimed at all ages.

"I take children as young as three as well as adults but I'd really like to specialise in young teenagers from 13 to 16. I like this age group, they have got so much to give, but often their energy is channelled into the wrong things and their parents are too close to help them."

She says helping them to speak clearly and precisely and look people in the eye when they are speaking will assist them whatever career they go into. Her classes will touch on drugs, alcohol and other social issues too.

Schools and out of school clubs are already showing interesting in Dramatique, and Maggie would eventually like to franchise the idea.

She is already getting tee-shirts and other Dramatique items personalised for her class members.

At the moment she is only charging £5 an hour to get the business off the ground and says losing weight means she can jump around and get down on the floor with those she is teaching.

"It's funny really I come from a family of teachers and rebelled against it as a career move. Now I've come full circle and I am passing on my skills as a teacher."

Anyone who would like more details about Dramatique can contact her on 07710 299957.